Bath Life – issue 430

ISSUE 430 / 6 – 19 NOVEMBER 2020 / £3

TAKE ME

#BathTogether

ISSUE 430 / 6 – 19 NOVEMBER 2020 / WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS

OUR STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO THE BEST STROLLS AROUND THE CITY ON THE RIGHT TRACKS Contemporary art comes to Green Park Station IN WITH THE INN CROWD Why the new Moorfields pub is an inspiration A FRESH LOOK AT RETAIL The luxe and luscious Kilver Court TAKE A HIKE Fab accessories to help up your step count FRINGE BENEFITS No 45 salon opens for business BEHIND THE CURTAIN Experts talk the perfect bathroom

EDITOR’S LETTER

above: Agnes Pollock is just one

of the Bath artists exhibiting at Green Park Station (page 18) below: Get prepared and take a hike (page34)

I

wasn’t a fan of lockdown I’ll be honest. Baking, cleaning, and being at home 24/7 just didn’t do it for me. I mean, I did do lockdown of course, but didn’t get off on it like some. However what I did love, and now I’m back working, I realise I’m missing, is the walking. Yes, I walked before the pandemic, mainly in a need to get from A to B way, checking my emails / social media / texts along the way. But these Covid-times strolls were something else – phone left at home – this was about clearing my head, finding space and looking up and appreciating the beauty of Bath and the rolling, layered, green landscape that flanks it. But now routine has resumed, I’ve let the hiking habit wane, so it was with this in mind, we’ve introduced a proper slow walk feature (page 34). Our instructions are dress sensibly (page 51), pack a picnic (see our foodie pages 48 for a little inspo), take this mag with you and use our step by step guide.

One place I’m definitely walking to, and around, is the upcoming Bath Contemporary Artists Fair in Green Park Station – it’s a new initiative started up by art-lover Malachi Bogdanov, who we chat to over on page 18, along with just a few of the artists taking part.

Enjoy and see you in the two weeks time!

SARAH MOOLLA

Follow us on Twitter @BathLifeMag Instagram @bathlifemag

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 3

Issue 430 / 6–19 November 2020 COVER The Bath skyline at sunset taken by Rhian Wirtz; www.instagram.com/rhianwirtz

COVER FEATURE

34 WALKING Introducing our new step-by-step guide to

some of the best walks in Bath

THE ARTS

18 The new Bath Contemporary Arts monthly fair is a must

for all creative fans

29 ARTS INTRO All-singing, all-dancing Bingo with a

difference at the newly reopened Komedia

30 WHAT’S ON Theatre, music, art and days out not to miss 37 BOOKS Recommendations to get your gift shopping

started

FOOD&DRINK

40 RESTAURANT The newly refurbished Moorfields goes

down a treat

44 RECIPE Masterchef winner Ping Coombes serves up her

go-to quick lunch

46 TAKE 5 Meet the family behind Bath’s new zero-waste

shop

48 FOOD & DRINK NEWS Sweet treats abound in this

round up of Bath’s foodie happenings

SHOPPING

51 INTRO Wrap up warm with style 52 EDITOR’S CHOICE Get outdoors and be stylish along

the way with this must-have kit for walkers 57 KILVER COURT All luxury, all the time

54

90

LIFESTYLE

54 GARDENS A visit to the tranquil haven at Kilver Court to

see its amazing green spaces

67 HAIR REVIEW Getting sleek and stylish at No.45

BUSINESS

69 BATHWORKS The local businesses making the headlines

PROPERTY

81 PROPERTY INTRO Live like a suffragette 82 PROPERTY NEWS What’s new in Bath’s property

market

84 SHOWCASE A 1960s Bathwick gem 90 BATHROOMS The top 10 bathroom mistakes to avoid

DEPARTMENTS

7 SPOTLIGHT Drama on the streets of Bath 11 FLATLINE David Flatman tries an innovative treatment 15 BATH TOGETHER Greg Ingham 98 LIVES Instagram influencer Nathan Rollinson on his

move to Bath

Editor Sarah Moolla sarah.moolla@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy editor Lydia Tewkesbury lydia.tewkesbury@mediaclash.co.uk Managing editor Deri Robins deri.robins@mediaclash. co.uk Senior art editor Andrew Richmond Graphic design Megan Allison Cover design Trevor Gilham Contributors Nic Bottomley, Elsie Chadwick, David Flatman, Greg Ingham, John Mather and Nick Woodhouse Group Advertising Manager Pat White pat.white@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy advertising manager Justine Walker justine.walker@ mediaclash.co.uk Account manager Annabel North annabel.north@mediaclash.co.uk Production/Distribution manager Sarah Kingston sarah.kingston@mediaclash.co.uk Deputy Production Manager Kirstie Howe kirstie.howe@mediaclash.co.uk Production designer Matt Gynn matt.gynn@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Jane Ingham jane. ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Chief executive Greg Ingham greg.ingham@mediaclash.co.uk Bath Life MediaClash, Circus Mews House, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW 01225 475800 www.mediaclash.co.uk @The MediaClash © All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without written permission of MediaClash.

We’re a Bath-based publisher, creative agency and event organiser Magazines Our portfolio of regional magazines celebrates the best of local living: Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter. Agency From the design and build of websites to digital marketing and creating company magazines, we can help. Events We create, market, promote and operate a wide variety of events both for MediaClash and our clients Contact: info@mediaclash.co.uk

4 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SPOTLIGHT Bath Fringe

ALL PHOTOS © PAUL BL AKEMORE

ART ATTACK The creative types of Bath will always be working away on a new project, pandemic or no pandemic. Over a weekend in October, the streets were taken over by street performers for a walk about performance.

The six street acts were part of the Fringe’s New Work Works scheme with funding from Arts Council England and the Roper Family Trust. New Work Works gives up and coming talent the opportunity to collaborate with professional directors and workshop leaders to craft their performances – the positive results were obvious to see.

The six acts included Curious Company with the Department of Complaints, along with Fringe regular Queenie, Fun in the Oven Theatre with Witcheroo, The Newspaper Man by Joe D’Orso, SUSSAN the Robot created by Sun & Moon Theatre and The Shy Mice by Stephanie Reeves and Bobby Tromple, created by James Crawley.

“We love doing street festivals, and normally that’s just what we do, but it’s somehow even closer to the spirit of the art not to tell anyone about it beforehand, so that everybody comes upon the performers unexpectedly,” says Steve Henwood from Bath Fringe Festival. “If there’s one thing better than a smart show adding to the charms of a pleasant place it’s when you didn’t expect to find it there. That way it’s a complete bonus, a totally unexpected gift.”

For more: www.bathfringe.co.uk

clockwise: The Shy Mice;The Department of Complaints; Bobby Tromble on the hunt for pidgeons; SUSSAN the Robot out for a stroll; The Newspaper Men

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 7

SPOTLIGHT Arts

© NOBBY CL ARK

© SOUL MEDIA

THE BEATING ART

Bath City Farm

FETCH THE BUBBLY

Bath City Farm is celebrating its 25th birthday.

Over its quarter century Bath City Farm has transformed the lives of thousands. Last year alone, it saw 950 people through targeted projects in animal care, horticulture and catering – seven per cent of them went on to find employment, 25 per cent re-engaged with training or education and 35 per cent reduced clinical mental health support or medication. It’s also just a lovely place to visit.

In addition to its big birthday, the farm is also celebrating reaching their £50,000 fundraising target to meet the budget shortfall caused by the coronavirus crisis.

“Even with our celebrations being slightly lower key than we’d hope, the impact of the charity over the past 25 years is something we are really proud of,” says Helen Fisher, farm manager. “Having the opportunity to look back and reflect on our founding vision and the journey that we have been on has come at really good time.”

For more: www.bathcityfarm.org.uk

8 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

After months of struggle, Bath’s venues and arts organisations finally have something to celebrate. Nine of the museums, venues and organisations that make up Bath’s cultural heart were thrilled to receive awards from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. Bath Festivals, Bath Comedy Festival, Moles Club Bath, The Holburne Museum, Jane Austen Centre, Rondo Theatre, Komedia and Theatre Royal Bath all received desperatelyneeded funds.

“Theatres, museums, galleries, dance companies and music venues bring joy to people and life to our cities, towns and villages,” says Sir Nicholas Serota, chair of Arts Council England.

This life-changing funding will save thousands of cultural spaces loved by local communities and international audiences. Further funding is still to be announced and we are working hard to support our sector during these challenging times.”

For more: www.artscouncil.org.uk

Dispatches from the spots we never get tired of photographing

North Passage by Andrew Curtis/ @andrew_ep_curtis

TOP: Fangs of the Dodo at Moles; MIDDLE: Bath Festivals lighting up

the streets in years’ past; BOTTOM: Joseph Millson and Edward Bennet star in Betrayal

Moments from Bath City Farm’s past, 1999-2005

Victoria Park by Daniel Davies/ @explore_with_dan85

The Huntsman by Pasquale Carlucci/ @theurbanteller

Attention Business Owners and Directors Do you need more than just accounts and tax returns from your accountant?

Being able to prepare your MTD returns, accounts and tax returns is a given for a professional firm.

Seven Reasons why hundreds return to PG Owen Ltd each year.

But can your accountant help you make more money?

✔ Free advice sheets and newsletters to help your business grow

Does your accountant have experience working in your specialist field?

✔ Advice from experienced qualified professionals

Does your accountant give you answers or just more questions?

✔ In house mortgages, life, pensions and investment advice.

We are more than just your accountants; we are your complete business partners.

✔ Clear fixed and guaranteed fees. When we say fixed we mean it

✔ We speak to you in plain English ✔ Full range of legal and probate services through our sister company ✔ A unique one stop advice service for all businesses and individuals from cradle to grave and beyond!

Contact us now: 7 Northumberland Buildings, Wood Street, Bath BA1 2JB T: 01225 422183 E: bath@pgtax.co.uk

www.pgtax.co.uk

Family jewellery manufacturers Est 1979

FLAT LINE DAVID FLATMAN

Animal magnetism

© TAKING PICTURES

After putting up with pain for years, Flats is drawn to a new magnetic treatment

“Stopping would have been difficult, seeing as professional rugby was my job”

L

ots of us learn to live with physical pain. We learn to live with it as, having tried one or two supposedly revolutionary techniques to alleviate said discomfort that obviously didn’t work, we’ve given up bothering.

My pain, as it happens, resides in my shoulders and, more acutely, in my elbows. This is because, for years, I abused them and ignored them every time they asked me to stop doing something. Stopping would have been difficult, seeing as professional rugby was my job, so the abuse continued.

I played in the front row of the scrum for 25 years, and that meant binding as tightly as I possibly could to my big, hairy mate, and smashing like mountain goats into other apes doing the same thing. It all sounds a little silly in print, but a job’s a job. My aim was to bind so tightly that my mate felt his ribs might crack (they never do, don’t worry), and this takes its toll on the joints involved.

By my mid-twenties I knew I had a problem. I’d punched my friend in a training session as a joke (yes, again, doesn’t sound so funny when typed out) and not connected properly, and my elbow had gone ‘crack’. From that day on, every time I bound up – about 15 times a day – I felt my elbow joint clunking around, almost popping in and out. Ho hum, we plough on. Fast forward to my final season and the pain becomes too much and I can’t train anymore, so I’m ‘given’ an operation. In short, the clunking around stopped but the pain never did. And by this point, my other elbow had given up, too, I think just to feel like he fit in with the cool gang.

Accept that it hurts, then get on with life. Until, that is, you have to pull off the motorway to rest your elbows for five minutes as driving has become too painful. This happened in August and that’s when I decided to stop being lazy and a pretend tough guy and hit

the internet in search of some help.

An odd-looking chum of mine was quick to suggest I speak to Paul Tisdale – former long-term manager of Exeter City FC – as he had ‘this high-tech bit of kit with electromagnets that’ll sort you out, apparently’. Yes, as you can imagine, this description of Paul’s treatment didn’t sell it immediately…

But call Paul I did, and he told me about the clinic he and his wife, Julia, have opened in town. They’ve gone into business with a lovely man called Adey Saunderson, a physiotherapist with a background in professional football and rugby (I tried to get some dirt on him from some mutual acquaintances but, frustratingly, he’s just really good and really nice). Just off Walcot Street, At The Core is in a great spot, and even I couldn’t get out of trying these electromagnets. The treatment is actually called MBST and they’re not magic; MBST uses magnetic resonance technology, a lot like MRI scanning. In truth, I’m not entirely sure what they do, but I do know that before typing these words I cleared the kitchen table after lunch, and picking up three china plates wasn’t at all painful. Were I a religious man, I would have looked up and thanked my god. I’m not, though, so I just had an espresso and some carrot cake instead.

Folks are in there having their knees done, their hands, their backs, the lot. I still wonder how my dodgy elbows might feel in a decade or so, but for now I just can’t wait to walk the dog without cursing his every stop-and-sniff for the slicing pain it shoots up the lead.

David Flatman is an ex-Bath and England rugby star turned TV pundit and rent-o-mic. Follow him on Twitter @davidflatman

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 11

#BATH TOGETHER GREG INGHAM

Love in the time of corona MediaClash’s chief exec GREG INGHAM contemplates deep emotions, this brave old world and bequeathed beauty in These Times. Spoiler alert: love is all...

L

et’s be clear.

These are times of deep, unexpected emotions.

When the tectonic plates of domestic life shift, friction occurs.

Mysterious ravines open up underfoot.

It’s the pressure of working from home, of being always on, of the partitions separating professional from personal slipping away. That odd tension of the duality of Zoom-aware upper body office smartness while wearing jimjams, with little opportunity for temporal or psychological shifts between modes.

That recurrent home schooling, mainly of kids but occasionally by them when it comes to recalcitrant computers, when the phrase “Why, a child could understand this!” is an inverted recognition of deft knowledge

rather than a dismissal.

Tearfully for some couples, these times have been forever Sundays – that day of the week when disproportionate numbers of rows (and much worse) erupt. Living together, always altogether, can suffocate. Family rows spike notably, if not quite like a certain pandemic.

Layer in sickness general, sickness seasonal and the sickness with the unspeakable C-word, and our emotions go forth and multiply like, well, a contagious virus.

Even more unwelcome grimness? The heightened, deepened sorrow of funerals in these times, sadly not conducted at a funereal pace (over-tight schedules to meet for coronacompliance making more explicit the soulless efficiency of crematoria). And sadly limited to the very nearest and dearest, denying those chance, lifepivoting encounters years on with old friends or relatives. Or worse,

“This is a time of unexpected beauty, where we look anew at the city of Bath”

funerals paraded deathlessly on some unmoving remote camera: not remotely similar to the real life, real death experience.

Put this away though. All is true and more; human beings can’t stand too much reality though. Happily our continuingly weird reality has also included heightened, sharpened positive emotions; extremes touched at both ends in a time when familiar reality has been outsourced.

Instead then, let’s talk about joy. This is a time of unexpected beauty, where we look anew at the city of Bath, its visual splendour disported elegantly, timelessly in front of us for our long-lingering gaze. It’s too easy to become inured to the beauty of Bath, that it becomes normative, familiar and paradoxically distant, just not on our aetheric horizon because it is there all the time. It takes a visiting friend to trigger first pride and then wonderment: we see the world through their eyes and this demiworld, this brave old world of Bath reveals itself to us once more.

Perhaps at a deeper level, it has taken the visitation of the pandemic to open our eyes to this bequeathed beauty. We have wandered the city more widely, looked more closely, enjoyed more evidently, explored more

thoroughly – perforce, perhaps, but we have experienced our city more intimately on foot and on our own terms and in our limitless time.

Love of place is as a speck of dust compared with love of person. Whatever stresses and tensions, and they are surely legion for some, this time of existential maundering and contemplation yields a literally home truth: love is all.

Of this we know. When all is stripped back, when routine or dignity or status or travel or jobs or raison d’être or even other lives are lost – when we are pared back to just us, just this flesh and blood, what is at the core is our ability and desire to love.

Venerate love.

Every day, let’s not let this brush with mortality, metaphorical or real, keep from us an abiding truth. Just as the beauty of Bath has always been there if we could but see it, so love is there. Take a moment to look around or reach out to give thanks for those who you love.

And who, if you are blessed, love you. x

#BathTogether – always…

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 15

COMPLETE YOUR INTERIOR STYLE Discover the perfect window furnishing product to compliment your interior style with Aspect Window Styling. We supply an extensive range of made-to-measure products including blinds, shutters and curtains.

We offer a complete design to installation experience, including measuring and fitting services. Visit our showroom to learn more.

01225 469 559 info@aspectwindowstyling.co.uk www.aspectwindowstyling.co.uk or visit our showroom 1 Saracen Street, Bath, BA1 5BR

© FR AN MAY

MAIN IMAGE: Agnes is looking forward to showcasing her work at the BCAF; LEFT: Green Park Station is transformed into a gallery space

18 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ARTS

BRUSH HOUR The newly formed Bath Contemporary Artists Fair at Green Park Station has been a runaway success

By Sarah Moolla

O

nce a month a sea of beautiful art is taking over Green Park Station – fine art, photography, sculpture, textiles, ceramics – it’s all there and it’s all local talent.

Yet Bath Contemporary Artists, the group responsible for this stunning showcase, was only formed in September this year. BCA’s curator, Malachi Bogdanov (pictured below), explains, “In 2017 I created The Apple Gallery with the purpose of offering original art at an affordable price. Since then the gallery became a regular presence at Green Park, as well as operating online. The Ethical Property Company, who look after Green Park Station, asked if I was interested in starting a regular art fair.

“So in September we announced that the first edition of BCAF was going to happen in October. Applications started to come in and, after a selection, the first round of talented exhibitors was there. In October we started with 30 exhibitors, now we have 40 confirmed for November, and for December, we are heading towards 50.”

And as restrictions start to lift and the group gains momentum, Malachi hopes the fairs can evolve, “We would love to turn BCAF into a 360 degrees event, possibly involving physical theatre as well as music, and maybe even cabaret, and become a late night happening. Mainly though, we want to create something of beauty, happiness and talent, that is a great experience for whoever chooses to stop by.”

Here, a few of the Bath Contemporary Artists talk about their work and what Bath and the BCA Fair means to them

“BCAF gives me hope that 2020 will end on a positive note for artists and art lovers alike”

AGNES POLLOCK / www.agnespollock.com “I mainly sell my work online through Instagram and painting is a very solitary occupation, so I am looking forward to showcasing my work at the BCAF, as I love the personal interaction. I have not been able to do any art fairs or exhibitions since lockdown and am very grateful to the organisers for creating this platform for local artists, in hopefully the busy period before Christmas.

“I moved to Freshford in 2013 and would not want to live or work anywhere else. There is a wonderfully friendly and supportive community of creatives in and around Bath. I am convinced that the beauty of this city and its surrounding countryside is a reason there are so many artists living here.”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 19

Rita is inspired by the buildings of Bath, like Pulteney Bridge opposite, but is also is fascinated by the myths and legends of the city; BELOW: More than 30 artists exhibited in October at Green Park Station

RITA LAZARO / www.ritalazaro.co.uk “I live in Twertonville, the real artists’ quarter of Bath and have participated in several events organised by 44AD. Since lockdown wiped out all exhibitions and events, I haven’t been able to show any of my work this year, but I spotted the advert for the Bath Contemporary Artists Fair in the Creative Bath newsletter and immediately applied.

“Bath’s architecture inspired a lot of my earlier work, but soon I got fascinated by the myths and legends, the hidden history, the things they don’t tell you in the tourist info.

“Bath is a city full of creative talent, which can be inspiring and daunting at the same time, but I love the place, and I hope one day it will love me back. BCAF gives me hope that 2020 will end on a positive note for artists and art lovers alike.”

20 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ARTS

THOMAS DAVEY / www.tomdaveyart.com “I managed to join BCAF as I’ve had my paintings in the Green Park Market for the last three years every weekend. After the first show in September, I had several emails asking for commissions and if I’d be in the next show. I’m looking forward to coming back in November. It’s good to be able to display safely and have something to look forward to during these uncertain times.

“I live on Walcot Parade in a cosy second floor flat with views of the Bath skyline walk. It also looks towards the Chinese takeaway Yummy House, which I painted during lockdown. Bath is an inspiring city to be in, people often talk about the way the light hits the buildings. Mainly for me though, it’s my relationship with the locals – I can collect my art materials and a loaf of bread at the same time, then get my paintings professionally photographed, and framed on the next street.”

“After the first show in September, I had several emails asking for commissions” Thomas’s flat overlooks the Chinese takeaway the Yummy House, which he painted during lockdown

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 21

ARTS

Emma is excited to be a part of something that makes art so readily accessible

EMMA ROSE / www.emmaroseartworks.com “An artist friend passed the word on about BCAF and from the outset I admired their ethos. I signed up straight away. The organiser Malachi is ex-Royal Shakespeare Company and well used to organisation with artistic types. My background is film and theatre, so I was attracted to the shared skill set.

“It is exciting being part of the beginning of a fresh new approach to selling contemporary art. Anything that makes the process of browsing and buying more accessible is a complete boon – this is where BCAF has excelled. Ideally the BCAF market will become as popular as the Farmers Market. All food for the soul.”

“Anything that makes the process of browsing and buying more accessible is a complete boon” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 23

ARTS NANCY CHAMBERS / www.nancychambersart.co.uk “In 2020 there have very few opportunities for artists like me to have direct contact with art enthusiasts and collectors. BCAF is such a great venture as the Green Park Station where the fair will be held is outdoor but covered, which means we can all enjoy the art, no matter what the weather throws at us, and enjoy connecting with art and artists while staying safe in these Covid-aware times.

“Bath is very culturally rich and there is a vibrant community of artists and opportunities to exhibit, on art trails, at the Bath Open held at the Victoria Art Gallery (in normal times), in the vast array of commercial galleries as well as at art fairs like BCAF. I enjoy buying art and meeting other artists myself, so it’s a great city to immerse yourself in art.”

PEDRO RAMALHO / www.instagram.com/selfabsorbability “I think Bath needed an art fair that focuses on helping the artists – at the moment, no percentage of the sales is taken by the organisers.

You can imagine what a massive help that is under these current circumstances. It means we can show once a month, affordably, and have a great reason to keep making creative works. Another positive is the artistic atmosphere, where creatives can share opinions and enjoy each other’s work.

“At the moment my work has been inspired by the loss of friends, and feelings of isolation because of the virus. My walks in Victoria Park help to remind me I am so fortunate to be living in one the most beautiful cities in the world.”

above: Nancy notes the outdoor nature of the Green Park Station makes it a safer

space for all; below: Pedro enjoys the opportunity to meet with other artists

24 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“We want to create something of beauty, happiness and talent”

ARTS

above: Yvonne’s birds are inspired by her neighbour’s rooftop; below: Kelly has worked with curator Malachi previously

YVONNE ELSTON / www.bearflatartists.co.uk “Bath has a lively arts scene and a number of galleries and fairs. For the last seven years I’ve been involved in the very popular Bear Flat Artists Open Studio art trail. Because BCAF focuses on the contemporary, it’s a great opportunity to exhibit more widely alongside artists with similar aims.

“My studio in Bear Flat overlooks my garden – plenty of time to observe and reflect on the form of the bird – especially when not in motion. My piece here entitled Concordia, is a mid-century influenced take on the birds I see sat on my neighbour’s rooftop.”

KELLY FITZGERALD / kellyfitzgeraldstudio@gmail.com “I am a Larkhall based artist, designer and maker who trained as a theatre designer, specialising in costume and worked with Malachi many years ago in London. I have worked on many productions and events over the years, creating everything from traditional Regency costumes to aliens and gorillas for large scale events such as Glastonbury.

“As well as being an associate lecturer at Bath Spa University, I am currently helping create the interiors for several Bath Hotels including The Bird, and am in the process of setting up The House of Larks, selling bespoke and limited-edition art, interiors and fashion in collaboration with Susie Ralph, who also works extensively on many Bath-based creative projects.”

The next dates for the Bath Contemporary Artists Fair at Green Park Station are 8 November and 13 December n For more: www.bcaf.co.uk

26 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

THE ARTS S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S C U LT U R A L L I F E

DANCING QUEEN It’s bingo… with a difference. Join the star of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9, self-styled Bingo Queen and Royal Television Society Award winner Charlie Hides for a night of socially distanced sass, songs and Drag Queen Bingo – the best sort of bingo, in our opinion.

An international star who has played for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Angelina Jolie, we can think of no one better to usher audiences back to the newly reopened Komedia on Westgate Street than Charlie. Sing along, laugh

along, and take home a few camp prizes if you’re lucky. Best of all, if you miss out on the show this time around don’t fear, Charlie will be back with a Festive Drag Bingo Spectacular in December.

18 November, 7.30pm, Drag Bingo with Charlie Hides 16 December, 7.30pm, Festive Drag Bingo Spectcular with Charlie Hides Komedia; 22-23 Westgate Street; tel: 01225 489070; www.komedia.co.uk www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 29

This broadast of NT Live: War Horse makes profound viewing for Remembrance Day

WHAT’S ON 6 November – 6 December

EXHIBITIONS Until 8 November

KEITH JANSZ This magical collection of paintings explore light – from the sparkling reflections of the sun glancing off the sea to the stretching shadows of a wintry afternoon. The artist, Keith Jansz painted the entire remarkable collection by holding a brush in his mouth. He’s tetraplegic, which means he is paralysed in all four limbs. He credits painting as the stepping stone he needed to cope with the trauma of his paralysis – now he is an artist for a living and has exhibited around the world.

Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-12.30pm; The Galleries Shop & Café, Freshford; www.keithjansz.com

Until 14 November

FIND PEACE AND TRANQUILITY We could all use a little of it – and this exhibition of works by Kathryn Scaldwell certainly has both.

Kathryn uses oils in bold colours to create dreamlike seascapes and giclée prints, often inspired by her faith, nature and the local landscape.

Mon-Sat (except Wed); 10am-5pm; The Art Cohort; @the_art_cohort on Instagram

30 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Until 13 December

RUH HEROES EXHIBITION This eclectic collection features artwork and photography from a select few of Bath’s local artists, and 40 per cent of any sales from the exhibition will be donated to the RUH’s Forever Friends Appeal.

The collection includes work by David Ringsell, whose realistic but painterly reimaginations of Bath celebrate the beauty of the city.

Mon-Sun; 8am-10pm; ArtBar, The Abbey Hotel; www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

Until 20 December

NIGHT & DAY: 1930s FASHION AND PHOTOGRAPHS First curated by the Fashion and Textiles Museum in London, this exhibition is the ultimate experience of 1930s glam. Think floor length gowns in satin, velvet or crêpe – complete with diamanté accessories, obviously. It’s the perfect escape from the present; cast yourself in the role of ’30s femme fatale as you wander the display, picturing yourself at the wild and wonderful parties of yesteryear.

Tues-Sat; 10am-5pm; American Museum & Gardens; www.americanmuseum.org

Always check COVID-19 restrictions and instructions with venues before your visit

Until 3 January 2021

GRAYSON PERRY: THE PRE-THERAPY YEARS Loved Grayson Perry’s Art Club? Delve deeper into his work with a visit to his exhibition at The Holburne. A collection of fascinating ceramics he created during his early years as a working artist, the selection of works demonstrate someone still seeking their identity, and all of the strong emotions that come with that process. Many of the politically charged have not been seen in public since they were first exhibited.

Mon-Sun; 10am-5pm; £12.50; The Holburne; www.holburne.org

11–25 November

A WEEK IN TOKYO In October 2019 during the Rugby World Cup, Andrew Polson hit the streets of Tokyo armed with his Nikon D810, determined to capture his perspective on the life of a city that offers such contrast to our own.

Local artist Jason Dorley-Brown has designed and curated a selection of the resulting images for this unique exhibition. Proceeds from sales will be donated to Dorothy House.Mon-Fri; 10am-4pm; BRLSI; www.brlsi.org

14–15 November

OPEN STUDIO: JESSICA PALMER A perfect shopping opportunity, Jessica is opening her St Mark’s Road studio for Christmas shoppers.

She will be selling a plethora of her unique collages and papercuts as well as copies of all her published books. Visitors will have the chance for a behind-the-scenes peek in her studio where she’s worked on projects for clients as diverse as Disney-Pixar, Burberry and the National Trust.

Sat 10.30am-4.30pm, Sun 10.30am4pm; 7 St Marks Road; www.jessicapalmerart.com

PLAYS/SHOWS Saturdays, November & ongoing

KRATER COMEDY CLUB It’s finally back, and we couldn’t be happier. Every Saturday night at Komedia, three top-notch stand ups and one great compère will take the stage for a diverse night of comedy. A lot of big names have played this one on their way up the ladder, so head along – you never know who might end up being the next big thing.

WHAT’S ON Doors 6.30pm, show starts 8pm; prices vary; Komedia; www.komedia.co.uk

FILM

Until 21 November

NT LIVE: WAR HORSE Based on the beautiful novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is a necessary theatrical experience. An international smash hit, it is being broadcast at the Merlin Theatre to mark Remembrance Day. Wed 7pm, Sun 2pm; £16; Merlin Theatre, Frome; www.merlintheatre.co.uk

COPHENHAGEN The second in the trio of plays of the Theatre Royal’s returning season, the multi award-winning Copenhagen by Michael Frayn tells the story of a clandestine encounter between two Nobel Prize winning physicists during the city’s Nazi occupation in 1941. Once old friends and colleagues, the two men have now found themselves on opposite sides – tension abounds.

Mon-Sat 7.30pm, Thurs and Sat 2.30pm; prices vary; Theatre Royal; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

13 & 27 November

above:

Kathryn Scaldwell’s works evoke a sense of peace and tranquillity. See them at The Art Cohort until 14 November left: Catch the screening of Cocoon 15 November at Green Park Station below: Jessica Palmer is opening her at 7 St Marks Road on 14 and 15 November

BATH COMEDY CLUB Bath Comedy is celebrating the return of live comedy with a fortnightly Comedy Club. Enjoy three comedians in one giggle-filled evening – in other words, exactly what we need right now. The show on the 13th will feature John Molony and Harriet Braine (with the third act TBC), while on the 27th Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre will take the stage along with Archie Maddocks and Janine Harouni.

Doors 7.15pm, show starts 8pm; £12; Widcombe Social Club; www.bathcomedy.com

18 November & 16 December

DRAG BINGO WITH CHARLIE HIDES A socially distanced game night filled with stand-up, campy fun and all the joy we have sorely missed during the last few months. A guaranteed good time, make sure to wear your fiercest outfit. Flip to page 29 for more.

Doors 6pm, show starts 7.30pm; £42 (minimum order six tickets); www.komedia.co.uk

25 November – 12 December

OLEANNA This is a controversial one. First written and produced 30 years ago but utterly of the moment, Oleanna is set on an American college campus. A conversation unwinds between a college professor and female student that threatens to destroy both their lives when she files a sexual harassment claim against him in this seminal piece by David Mamet.

Mon-Sat 7.30pm, Thurs & Sat 2.30pm; various prices; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

11 & 15 November

13–17 November

FILMBATH A 23-foot inflatable screen will take over Green Park Station to show two extraordinary hand-picked films a night at this year’s socially distanced festival. Films include Miss Juneteeth, the story of a single mother desperate to see her daughter follow in her footsteps and turn beauty queen, Cocoon, an ever-green tale of a shy wallflower falling in love for the first time, and Another Road, a provocative piece starring Mads Mikkelsen as a depressed school teacher who persuades his friends to turn to alcohol-fuelled destruction.

Various times; £12 per film; Green Park Station; www.filmbath.org.uk

MUSIC

20 November

VOODOO ROOM: A NIGHT OF HENDRIX, CLAPTON AND CREAM Exactly what it says on the tin, this night’ll have you dancing in your seat. Enjoy the high energy Power Trio by some fine musicians who have worked with artists like Steve Windwood, Massive Attack, Arthur Brown, Fish, and Lulu among others.

Doors 7pm, show starts 8pm; £32 (min booking of two seats); www.komedia.co.uk

20 November

LEVERET Sam Sweeny on fiddle, Rob Harbon on concertina and Andy Cutting on melodon make up this folk supergroup. All with a ton of critical acclaim to their names, this group of musicians put on a show that is playful yet relaxed. Their sound is a balm for the soul in trying times.

6pm & 8pm (separate shows), 8pm performance also streamed online; £20 live/£10 streamed; Wiltshire Music Centre; www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

27 November

GÜRL Expect hip hop production,

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 31

WHAT’S ON

above: Explore Tokyo with this exhibition of photography by Andy Polson at the BRLSI from 11-25 November left: There’s still time to see Grayson Perry, The Pre-Therapy Years at The Holburne

cinematic guitars and an atmospheric sound from gürl. If Billie Eilish met Nine Inch Nails, you’d have some approximation of their unique sound. Dark and hard hitting, the influences of their co-producers and co-writers James Veck-Gilodi (Deaf Havana) and Phil Gornell (All The Time Low) shine through in their eclectic set of songs.

7.30pm; £3-6; Moles; www.moles.co.uk

DAYS OUT 14 November

THE FAST AND THE FOODIES Super cars and tasty food – a spectacular combination. Organised by the new Innox Mill development site owners along with Wiltshirebased car enthusiast community Driven Life and The Anonymous Travellers Market, on this day out for gear heads you can expect to see brand new Lamborghinis, Porches and Ferraris as well as classic British and American Cars like the Capri, Mustang, an American hot rod and a 1933 Austin. All that and delicious food? We’re so in for this day out.

10am-2pm; next to Trowbridge Station Car Park; www.innoxmills.co.uk

15 November

SUNDAY MAKERS MARKET Buy directly from the artists at this cute, eclectic market in Frome. This year more than ever before we have realised the importance of shopping

32 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

locally, and this lovely little market provides a great opportunity to support and promote local makers – and get started on your Christmas shopping while you’re at it.

10am-4pm; Black Swan Arts, Frome; www.blackswanarts.org.uk

15 November

WILLIAM HERSCHEL’S BIRTHDAY Celebrate the 283rd birthday of Bath astronomer William Herschel, famed for discovering the planet Uranus in 1781 during a night’s star gazing in his garden. Learn all about the Herschel family and their joint passions for music and space. Weather permitting, the Bath Astronomers will also offer some guided star gazing.

Various times; £40 for up to six people in a bubble; Herschel Museum of Astronomy; www.herschelmuseum.org.uk

Various dates from 28 November

AVON VALLEY RAILWAY SANTA SPECIAL Meet Santa in the most picturesque surrounds imaginable – a steam train. Enjoy a six-mile trip in a heritage carriage, and a mince pie or festive biscuit to enjoy along the journey. Santa is working with a different set up this year to fit Covid restrictions – make sure you check the website for full details.

Times and prices vary; Avon Valley Railway; www.avonvalleyrailway.org n

© NOBBY CL ARK

Nancy Carroll and Edward Bennett helping give theatre the kiss of life

CENTRE STAGE

SARAH MOOLLA finds out how visiting the Bath Theatre Royal plays out in these Covid times It’s time to put your hands together for our guest star…. sanister.

The backdrop of a pandemic might not be the most alluring of settings to go to the theatre, but the return of the arts in Bath is too much to resist. So it’s mask on and marching onwards to the Saw Close building I’ve missed with an ache.

And judging by the buzz and upbeat atmosphere on arrival, I’m not alone. The locals have rallied to see this first offering in Theatre Royal Bath’s Welcome Back Season, Betrayal by Harold Pinter, with our self-printed tickets clutched in our sweaty but perfectly clean hands.

Despite the staggered start times, varied entrances, temperature testing, half the seats being out of action, the bar closed and there being no interval, amazingly the magic is still here. Once the curtain’s up and the lights are down, we are all fully immersed in the sharp and smart, and at times touchingly charming, retelling of heightened personal connections and devastating detachments.

Nancy Carroll, Joseph Millson, and Edward Bennett (who have all previously ’bubbled’ in order to perform here) circle each other as beautifully as dancers as the story of lies, love and lust unfolds over various time frames.

It feels like under normal, pre-coronavirus days, there might have even been a standing ovation. While this would have been reflective of the calibre of the performances we’d just seen, there is also an undercurrent of feeling we are clapping for the Theatre itself – for helping us to escape to another world, just for a blissful hour or two. Director Danny Moar and the TRB team, step forward and please take a bow.

Copenhagen is currently playing at the Theatre Royal until 21 November. See page 31 for more; www.theatreroyal.org.uk

© BATHSCAPE

Following a phone sat-nav does not achieve the same mood-enhancing, off-the-beaten-track results

W

STEP BY STEP 4 3

Se Ac ven Lanres e

5

2

Little Solsbury Hill North E

6

So

lsb

yL

an

Our new regular guide to walking back to happiness in Bath 34 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

nd

ur

e

Batheaston

To Bath

River Avon

1

Car Park

e all do it, but during lockdown, we really did it.

We walked. We walked to get our exercise, we walked to clear our heads, we walked walked to break up the monotony. We walked alone, with family, and with friends. The benefits were obvious – free, flexible, caloriesburning, and mood-enhancing. But there was one huge side effect we weren’t expecting – we all fell in love with Bath again.

This amazing little city is flanked by huge green spaces we’d taken for granted or not even been aware of, and so the walking continues. To keep us on the right path (and not following our phone sat nav because that way lies trouble and a dual carriageway), we’ve launched this occasional series of proper, spelt out Bath walks, starting with this first short circular route around Solsbury Hill, carefully plotted out by Bathscape, a local business partnership who run walks and events to help highlight and preserve the beauty of Bath’s landscapes.

© BEN ADAMS / FLICKR

WALKING

above: Enjoy spectacular far-reaching views

below: Bathscape lead guided walks around Bath

bottom: Little Solsbury Hill is the site of an Iron Age hill fort

BATHEASTON TO SOLSBURY HILL SHORT WALK 4.5km/2.75 miles by Bathscape Box resident and world famous musician Peter Gabriel famously wrote a song about this place: “Climbing up on Solsbury Hill, I could see the city light, Wind was blowing, time stood still.”

Let’s follow in his footsteps, through the fields of wild flowers, taking in the small turf labyrinth on the hill on the way, (put there in 1994 by a group protesting the widening of the A46), to stand atop the iron age hill fort and admire the panoramic views across Bath.

START/FINISH Batheaston Car Park, London Road East, Bath, BA1 7NB Accessibility notes: There are a couple of steep uphill sections and two stiles. The section through the woodland is on a muddy/uneven path. Some of the route is on quiet country lanes, once you’ve crossed the London Road.

There are facilities (shops, cafes, pubs, loos) in Batheaston. The car park has only a small number of spaces, and is free for three hours, there are frequent buses to and from the city centre. There may be livestock in the fields and on Solsbury Hill.

1 Leave the car park turning left, crossing the road when it’s safe. As the road bends left, take the steps on the right. Continue from the path onto the road ahead going uphill, and take Solsbury Lane on the left. After 150m towards the top of the rise, take the kissing gate on the right and head down the field towards the church taking the gate on the right back onto the road and continue ahead.

2 Turn left onto Seven Acres Lane. Where the road turns sharp right, take the marked footpath ahead, keeping to the right side of the field. Keep going straight up hill.

3 Half-way up the second field – stick to the path that follows the hedge as it goes sharp right (don’t take the footpath ahead going up hill) – go through the kissing gate. Head uphill diagonally across the field, bearing right, there’s no obvious path. On the opposite side, you’ll see a large gap in the hedge between two trees (with good views of the valley beyond), there’s a footpath sign pointing left, take this (don’t go between the trees, but turn left with the hedge on your right till you get to a narrow gap in the hedge.). The footpath is there, on a narrow, treelined path (trees on both sides) ending in a wooden gate. Keep to the bottom of the field with the hedge on your right.

4 Take the wooden stile into the woodland.

The path starts climbing and is quite uneven and likely to be muddy. Continue up through the woods and leave by another stile and continue up into the open space at the top of Solsbury Hill.

5 Ignore the waymarked path going downhill on the right. Take any of the informal paths up to the top of the plateau. There’s a wide footpath around the edge, follow it to the right until you reach the trig point. There are really good views into the east side of Bath, across to Brown’s Folly and to Wiltshire to the left.

6 Carry on following the edge of the plateau until you see some buildings on your right, where you can drop down and join the track with the buildings on your right. Carry on downhill and when you join a road, continue to the left, going downhill. Keep on Solsbury Lane to the end, and then turn right, and retrace your steps to the start, taking the steps on the left down onto the main road.

Bathscape are currently looking for volunteer walk leaders and assistants.

For more information visit: www.bathscape.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 35

LOCATED IN THE WORLD HERITAGE CITY OF BATH, THE MINT ROOM IS AN AWARD WINNING INDIAN SUCCESS. Our modern and innovative menu will create a memorable Indian dining experience. This includes our infamous “Tour of India” - an adventurous sixcourse tasting menu, allows your palate to Tour the cities of India through renowned traditional dishes.

Our mixologists are at hand to showcase you tantalising spice infused signature cocktails.

Our glowing rooftop terrace is open for an Indian Alfresco dining experience and occasional events. *Covid safety measures have been put in place to maintain the safety of our employees and guests. We also have a built in thermal body temperature monitor for extra protection and assurance.

The Mint Room, Bath. Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Road, Bath BA2 3EB. Tel: 01225 446656 The Mint Room, Bristol. 12-16 Clifton Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1AF. Tel: 0117 329 1300 Email: info@themintroom.co.uk Online: www.themintroom.co.uk

SECOND BRANCH NEWLY OPENED IN THE HEART OF BATH.

A welcoming and innovative Indian Street Food concept with a theatrical kitchen. Bandook has one purpose, bringing food from the streets of Bombay to Bath in order to bring family, friends and children together.

You will find traditional dishes with a modern twist such as the iconic, “Grandmas Curry”, enjoy a selection of flavoursome street Chaats, Taco Dosas, Popular Indian street food consisting of small and large plates, Nizami Biryanis, Karak Chai and Masala inspired signature cocktails. *Covid safety measures have been put in place to maintain the safety of our employees and guests.

We also have a built in thermal body temperature monitor for extra protection and assurance.

Bandook Bath 3-7 Milsom Place, Bath, BA1 1BZ. Tel: 01225 300600 Bandook Bristol Museum street, Wapping Wharf, Bristol BS1 6ZA. Tel: 0117 336 2845 Email: bath@bandookkitchen.com | www.bandookkitchen.com

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Present tense O Nic shares his selection of the some of the best books to give as gifts

“The text comes as poetic ‘spells’ that remind us of the quiet majesty of the creatures in our countryside”

ne of the trickiest aspects of retailing is getting several months ahead when it comes to buying and promoting books. When sales representatives show me spooky books in May, my stunted retail brain finds it difficult to fast forward to Halloween and imagine excited trick or treaters wanting to read about witches and spiders.

Similarly, when the catalogues in July offer snowtinted country house mysteries and anthologies of wintery tales, I find it difficult to remember how much demand there’ll be come Christmas shopping season.

This year’s different though. Had you noticed? This year, Christmas retail season is upon us in the blink of an eye. First, because it’s November already (somehow). And secondly because this year it’s important for us shop folk to give everyone the opportunity to spread their Christmas shopping out and get it done earlier than usual, so we avoid big crowds and clamour at a time when keeping safe is still the most important thing.

With that in mind, here’s a themeless scattergun charge through five of my favourite books to gift in the festive season ahead.

Lost Spells by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris (Hamish Hamilton, £14.99) is the exquisite follow-up to their inspiring Lost Words which encouraged so many of us to make sure that our children do not lose their connection to the natural world. The vast scale of their first book has been replaced with a pocked-sized hardback, but the combination of Morris’s stunning artwork and the evocative writing remains. The text this time comes as poetic ‘spells’ that remind us of the quiet majesty of the creatures in our countryside – barn owls, foxes, peregrine falcons, rabbits and so many more.

Sticking with poetry and those true ‘Christmassy’ books, there is one excellent anthology to look out for that I think will prove as a tonic to many readers in the season ahead.

A Poems for Every Winter Day edited by Allie Esiri (Macmillan, £14.99) brings together traditional and modern verse from Robert Burns to Joseph Coelho in a truly escapist and calming collection for the season.

Over the years golf-lovers, compared to

cycling nuts for example, have been poorly served when it comes to gift-books. Until now. Lofted by William Watt (Hardie Grant, £22) is easily the best visual book on golf I’ve ever seen. Dispensing with the hackneyed old perceptions of golf and instead focusing on the more inclusive modern game, Lofted takes us to the most intriguing and obscure locations from Himalayan foothills to windswept Scottish islands. Essays on the history and landscape of each course are accompanied by images for golfers to pore over as they work out how they’d navigate the epic sand-traps, ravines, and near lunar landscapes of some of the world’s most remarkable layouts.

In a year where travel has been ruled out but wanderlust might remain, The Flightless Traveller by Emma Gregg (Quercus, £22) may make the perfect gift. Not only is this a beautifully presented book that makes the browsing reader wistful for the open road, it’s also one with sustainable journeying at its heart.

Whether the trips described are short or long they share one thing in common – no flights are involved. Near-to-home adventures on foot or two wheels come to the fore, in combination with many enticing European itineraries accessed by rail or road. True, even after lockdowns ease, a couple of the epic trans-continental suggestions will be out of reach to all but the time-rich. But it doesn’t harm to dream and the overall message is timely and crucial – that the world can be at our fingertips even without costing the Earth.

And whilst the state of the planet is on our mind, it’s worth remember that at 94 years of age David Attenborough has once again contributed one of the most vital books of the year with A Life on Our Planet (Ebury, £20). As the subtitle tells us, this is his own witness statement of the changes to our planet’s eco-systems in his lifetime of observing and educating us about nature. It’s also his urgent call to arms for putting things right and therefore maybe the most vital book for all of us to read this Christmas.

Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 37

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CHARITY CHRISTMAS CARD POP-UP IN BATH CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES is open until 23 January…

T

he festive season truly gets under way in Bath when the Cards for Good Causes charity Christmas card shop opens at 8-10 Old Bond Street, Bath (previously Radley) on 24 October. The new location for 2020 is just a short walk from our usual pop-up space at St Michaels Church. Buying Christmas cards through Cards for Good Causes is the best way to get access to the widest selection of Christmas cards available, as well as a fantastic range of seasonal gifts and products, while supporting a range of national and local charities.

Staffed by a team of local volunteers, the Bath pop-up shop is part of a network of more than 300 temporary shops run by Cards for Good Causes, the UK’s largest charity Christmas card organisation. It represents more than 250 charities including Cancer Research UK, Barnardo’s, WWF, Alzheimer’s Society and RNLI as well as a number of local charities such as Julian House and Great 38 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Western Air Ambulance Charity.

The not-for-profit organisation has a huge selection of charity Christmas cards and seasonal gifts, and 100 per cent of its proceeds are donated to local and national charities. Last year, Cards for Good Causes raised over £5 million for charity, and has aspirations to do even better this year with charities needing vital funds more than ever in the current Covid-19 crisis.

Shoppers will be able to choose from hundreds of different Christmas card designs, as well as traditional advent calendars and candles, wrapping paper, gift tags, napkins and stocking fillers. Created especially for this season, local Christmas card designs depict Bath Abbey at Christmas time.

Jennifer Saunders, shop manager for Cards for Good Causes says, “Buying charity Christmas cards is one of the simplest ways to support good causes this festive season and we stock one of the widest ranges of Christmas cards anywhere. The proceeds from every card or product sold make a vital contribution to

the work of the charities that we partner. Come and find us at 8-10 Old Bond Street, Bath and get ahead in your Christmas preparations by getting your cards early.”

In the past ten years, charities have received more than £40 million from Cards for Good Causes, representing at least 70p in every pound, out of which the charities pay for the production and distribution of their Christmas cards and any VAT. ■

Shop Opening Hours: 10am–6pm, Monday–Saturday 8-10 Old Bond Street, Bath BA1 1BW For further information visit www.cardsforcharity.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE ADVENTURE STARTS HERE!

Adventurous learning is at the heart of KING EDWARD’S PRE-PREP AND NURSERY as Stuart Boydell, a Year 1 teacher explains…

K

ing Edward’s Pre-Prep & Nursery School is known as the school for adventurous minds where every day is different and every day is brimming with creativity and fun. Whether the children are busy turning their classroom into a Victorian school room, making cosy dens for hedgehogs in Forest School, or in an imaginary boat sailing around the world with a penguin looking for different penguin colonies, the children are continuously involved in learning through exploration and creative thinking.

Everything the Pre-Prep School does is aimed at giving the children the highest quality learning experiences. Learning takes place through a programme of carefully-crafted cross-curricular topics aimed at giving every child the best opportunities to develop a passion for learning. A love of reading and learning through stories are often at the heart of the children’s topics which lead them on adventures to medieval castles, lands roaming with dinosaurs or an exploration of new cultures and places around the world. Specialist teachers, trips and visiting guests enrich the topics by helping the children to create stunning art and pottery exhibitions, traditional cultural dances or cuisine and musical performances.

Beyond the broad curriculum, King Edward’s Pre-Prep School offers

14 & 15 Walcot Buildings, London Road, Bath BA1 6AD t: 01225 920 210 kelly@thebathframer.co.uk www.thebathframer.co.uk

a wealth of extra-curricular and enrichment activities which are carefully chosen to widen the children’s enjoyment and want for learning beyond the school day. The after-school specialist-run activities include Art, the Bertinet Cookery Club, Choir, Dance, Drama, Fun Science, Gardening, Individual Music Lessons, IT, Pottery and a wealth of different sports clubs.

The first exciting steps along the road for a child’s personal, emotional and academic development within King Edward’s School starts in the gentle environment within the Pre-Prep School. It is there that children and their parents forge close friendships that continue to grow with the children as they move up through the King Edward’s family of schools.

As one parent said, “the Pre-Prep is a little piece of school heaven.”

The journey of discovery and learning starts in the beautiful setting of King Edward’s Pre-Prep & Nursery School. The adventure really does start here! n

King Edward’s Pre-Prep & Nursery, Weston Lane, Bath BA1 4AQ; 01225 421681 pre-prep@kesbath.com. Before and After School Care available. Drop off from 8am.

Latest pick-up 5.45pm; www.kesbath.com

THE MOORFIELDS

Sarah Moolla finds it’s a case of more, more, more please at the newly refurbed Moorfields pub

Y

ou know that bit at the end of a restaurant review when the writer vows to return because they’ve loved it so much. And you wonder – do they mean that? Or are they just fobbing us off because they can’t think of how to end the review? Well, no such hackneyed false pay off lines here, because, cards on the refurbed table, I love The Moorfields so much, I’ve been back, not once, but twice.

I was vaguely aware of Moorfields before Joe Cussens and his Bath Pub Company got their turn-waterinto-wine mitts on it, with the help of Stonegate Pub Company. Not far from the Moorland Road, and en route to the Linear Way, it was a dishevelled-looking giant of a boozer, tired, grubby and in no way inviting.

So I never visited, and I’m hard pressed to find anyone who has, except one friend’s mum who went ‘back in the day to play skittles and drink rum and cokes.’ In fairness

40 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

to the old Moorfields, it’s one of those sorts of pubs we all knew and loved growing up – Big D salted peanuts behind the bar stuck to a board that would eventually reveal a busty babe; a spongy old dartboard; sticky red swirly carpets; and a big annoying bell for clanging ‘time gentleman please’. But if places like this don’t evolve, they get shunned. A few of the party faithful might hang on in there nursing their halves of bitter and the occasional Barcadi Breezer, but nobody new is going to be tempted in.

But The Moorfields’ transformation, just weeks into opening, has them flocking in, new and old alike. Its arrival, while it might have been tricky timing for Joe’s team, was a godsend for the rest of us. A statuesque and elegant, yet cosy cocoon of a gastropub, born in the midst of a pandemic, suggesting that progression is still possible despite these bleak times, but also offering an immediate and welcome refuge from the outside world

RESTAURANT

for a few hours.

It helps that Joe is an old hand at this new and improved boozer malarky, with his co-owned Bath Pub Company currently operating The Hare & Hounds, The Marlborough Tavern, and The Locksbrook Inn, all in Bath. “We first came across Moorfields in 2016, but we’d just done the Locksbrook and the timing wasn’t right to take on such a big project.”

In fact, Joe ended up signing the lease on the pub on 23 March of this year. “Part of me was terrified about putting pen to paper and confirming that commitment, and another part of me was terrified about not getting this over the line. But while I knew it was a scary time coming into lockdown, I knew we’d come out of it and then it was a really good site for long term – we just had to have faith with that intuition.”

Lockdown did mean the joint investment £500,000 refurbishment was delayed by a few months, but maybe this worked in the pub’s favour, “What we’ve ended up with is a really well-thought out operation, which was always our intention. From where the kitchen is going to be, where the car park is, entrances, exits points, store rooms – all the unglamorous things we need to plan in order for it to work really well.”

Also of course, Joe ended up planning for a Covid safe layout, which means for us punters it works a dream in terms of feeling secure. Table service, clear labelling, socially distant layouts, as well as efficient and friendly staff around at all times cleaning tables, answering questions, and facilitating the flow.

And the food’s not bad either. Interestingly as well, it’s all cooked by induction. “It’s our first all-induction kitchen, which is positive in so many ways,” says Joe. “It’s cleaner, greener, quieter, cooler and basically provides a much better environment for our kitchen staff to work their magic in.”

To add to the magic, Joe has brought in Jack Scarterfield, who has 2 AA Rosettes and is long-standing head chef from sister pub, The Marlborough Tavern.

He’s created a menu of contemporary crowd pleasers

“Thai sweetcorn burger with red chilli jam, slaw, skinny fries and aioli is a satisfying kaleidoscope of colours, tastes and textures”

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 41

RESTAURANT clockwise left: How Moorfields looks now after the £500,000 transformation; then there was in a skittle alley in the corner of the main room; the décor of the original Moorfields was dated

with a few retro numbers thrown in.

On my first visit, I go for a generous sized starter of sea-fresh juicy prawn cocktail garnished with slices of just-ripe avocado, gem lettuce and rye bread. My main of Thai sweetcorn burger with red chilli jam, slaw, skinny fries and aioli is a satisfying kaleidoscope of colours, tastes and textures. My companion declares her salt and pepper squid with homemade chilli jam and fresh lime to deliver just the right amount of kick, bite and crispiness.

And her proper chicken Kiev with mashed potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and roasted garlic butter is a refined take on a comforting classic. My pudding is the vegan dark chocolate and coconut brownie, deep and rich and offset with a serving of salted caramel ice cream.

My return visits involve the mixed meat with BBQ jerk wings, Moroccan lamb meatballs, pulled beef brisket, chilli and celeriac slaw, the freshly-baked, still warm breads with hummus, olive tapenade, pesto, and herby butter. But for me, the surprise winner is discovered on my third visit, the house loaded nachos with beef brisket chilli, melted cheese, jalapeños, sour-cream and guacamole. Don’t ask me what the secret is, I don’t know, except I wanted to eat them all, with my arm around the plate. But ‘apparently’ that’s just greedy and wrong, and I wasn’t allowed to. So, I vow to return because I love them so much. On my own, and I won’t have to share. n

42 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

DINING DETAILS The Moorfields, 73 Third Avenue, Oldfield Park, BA2 3NZ; tel: 01225 982102; www.themoorfields.com Opening hours 8am-10pm – serving breakfast 8am-11am, lunch 11am-4pm and dinner 4pm-8pm Type of food served The Moorfields offers classic, home-cooked pub favourites with fresh ingredients and a twist of extra personality Prices Starters cost between £4.50 - £8, mains: £9.50 - £24.50, desserts £1.50 - £7.00

“Joe ended up signing the lease on the pub on 23 March of this year”

Vegetarian options yes – lots plus many glutenfree and and vegan dishes listed Drinks choice Extensive wine list, house ales, premium spirits Outdoor seating At the time of press, this was still being constructed but is impressively large with plenty of seating and all-weather cover being arranged Service / atmosphere Just lovely – a real sense of the Bath community coming together to have a great time and support a new and exciting venture Anything else? Please, please, please ring ahead and book. The only thing that slightly marred the evening was seeing hopeful diners being turned away.

BRINGING CRAFT BEER TO WILTSHIRE

Great Wines, Good Times Your local independent wine emporium with a selection of over 200 quality wines from around the world is now online!

Cru Nights

JOIN OUR TASTINGS & EVENTS

Book a private tasting of up to six people or join one of our upcoming meet the brewer evenings: FRI 20TH NOVEMBER –MOOR BREWERY FRI 11TH DECEMBER –TOØL BREWERY

MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION

Treat yourself or a loved one to a subscription box where we box up the best of the best and limited edition beers.

BUY OUR RANGE AT CRU WINES INSTORE OR ONLINE

Winter 2020 series! From November we launch our series of Cru Nights - from Champagne nights, to Supper clubs to Beer Tastings - we have it all! Each event has limited numbers - so be sure to book early!

Rather stay in?

We've put the convenience into wine buying so you can shop your favourite wines online. Browse our selection online at cruwines.co.uk and travel the world through wine.

Christmas wines, presents & corporate gifting available Cru Wines Emporium & Tasting Rooms 4 Silver Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1JX

SHOP ONLINE WWW.CRUWINES.CO.UK //BOABEERCLUB

www.cruwines.co.uk cru_wines_uk CruwinesBOA

RECIPE

COLD SPICY PEANUT AND CUCUMBER NOODLES

By Ping Coombes

Serves 2-4 (2 as a main, 4 as a side/snack) Time: Under 15 minutes

T

his dish from Masterchef winner Ping Coombes is perfect for those days when you need something quick and easy. For minimal ingredients and fuss, you end up with a dish that delivers a punch of flavour.The spicy sauce in this tasty noodle bowl has a warm and comforting quality despite the cold ingredients, ideal for these ever-chillier days. For the dish, Ping recommends using Jimmy’s Saté Sauce, which is available to pick up in most Asian supermarkets.

“I have been recently appointed brand ambassador for Jimmy’s Saté Sauce. The sauce is made based on a Malaysian recipe and has been made by the same family for 60 years. It’s is used widely in most Asian restaurants and is one of their secret ingredients,” she explains.

Ingredients 180g dry fine egg noodles 200g cucumber 12g coriander Handful of salted peanuts

44 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Noodles dressing 60g Jimmy’s Saté Sauce 20g crunchy peanut butter 40g white rice vinegar* 40g plum sauce* 20g light soy sauce* 10g ginger, minced 5g garlic, minced 6g pure sesame oil (and some to drizzle) 10g cold water *Ping recommends using Amoy sauces Method 1 Bring a pan of water to boil. Cook noodles according to packet instructions. Don’t overcook, you want the noodles to have bite.

2 Drain and run under very cold water for about a minute. Drain well and drizzle with sesame oil to coat then set aside.

3 Mix all the ingredients for the dressing in a small mixing bowl 4 Cut the cucumber into fine matchsticks and roughly chop up the coriander leaves.

5 To assemble, place noodles in a mixing bowl,

pour over the dressing and mix well.

6 Divide into portion in smaller bowl per person, add a generous handful of cucumbers and coriander. Sprinkle with chopped salted peanuts.

7 Mix well before eating.

Top tips Try adding shredded cold chicken or crunchy vegetables to the noodles.

Make extra noodle dressing to use on salads or as a dip. It can last for a week in the fridge.

For more: www.pingcoombes.com STILL DON’T WANT TO COOK?

You can also have Ping’s cooking delivered to your door. Ping At Home, her chilled curries service delivers to Larkhall Butcher for pick up every Friday. There’s a limited menu that changes every week, with curries and sides.

Everything is made fresh and uses locally sourced ingredients where possible.

To sign up email athome@pingcoombes.com

TAKE 5

left: Hrisi Todeva, Mihaela Todeva, Leny Dimitrova and Stamena Dimitrova are the all-woman team behind Bath’s new zero-waste shop; above: Refillable offers an easy way for shoppers to reduce their plastic usage

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Stamena Dimitrova, along with her daughter, Leny, sister, Hrisi and her niece, Misha has launched Refillable, a zero-waste shop on London Road

Why did you start a zerowaste shop?

The idea came during the lockdown – initially I wanted to take over a little greengrocer that became available. But my daughter Leny and I have been feeling guilty for a long time about our plastic consumption – we are constantly encouraged by media and the government to reduce plastic, but accessible platforms for doing that are not that easy to find yet. The shop idea was born out of wanting to take action, be proactive and create an accessible way for consumers to reduce their plastic consumption.

Was it a complicated process?

We spent many days, weeks and months strategizing, researching,

46 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

planning and taking small steps forward. The amount of learning we did in this initial stage – it’s absolutely mind boggling! The more research we did, the more excited and inspired we got, because we realised there is a big ‘underground’ world of manufacturers and producers that actually can enable us all to live more sustainably. You can find everything you need in your daily life, plastic-free. Years ago, the range of items was very limited, but no more.

Why did you choose Bath to open the shop?

Bath is such an eco-conscious city. People here are forwardthinking, open minded and driven to make a difference. We chose

Bath because I love the city, the market is ready and waiting for a shop like this, and we found the perfect location. Refillable is in an iconic old grocery store with over 37 years of history. It was time to continue with the legacy but bring a new, fresh look and feel to it.

How has the shop changed?

When we came to see the empty shop first, it was in a shocking state. It was dark, worn out and falling apart. Rather than repaint, we decided to check underneath the old plaster – it turned out that sections of the walls are actually made of original Bath stone. We exposed the stone and went for as natural materials as possible for the décor. The shop has an industrial look, using reclaimed wood, metal pipes, old cable reels and old pallets. It is looking beautiful now and it has such a special vibe and energy.

And the beautiful murals on the walls?

We commissioned local artist Nicola Davis to create an iconic mural on one of our walls. We went with Nicola for her talent and her entrepreneurial skills.

Using her work also aligns with our values – to support local and to promote young female entrepreneurs.

What would you say to a zerowaste newbie?

Come and play. Literally – we joke that the shop is a play-ground for adults! Containers and jars line the walls, making the shop look so interesting and exciting.

We use scoops and handles that, when pulled down, dispense beautiful, colourful food. We are here to help initially, too.

Do you think 2020 has changed people’s habits when it comes to sustainability?

As a result of the lock down – I’d say the positive aspect of the lockdown – is that we slowed down a bit. We started noticing and attending to life in a different way – we became more mindful. With that mindfulness came more attention and a desire to get back to basics – performing with care tasks like food preparation, gardening and all the little daily things that we didn’t think much of before. A zero-waste shop extends this experience further. You can refill your daily essentials, you can make your own peanut butter with a push of a green button, you can have a nutrient-packed, freshly squeezed orange juice – all completely plastic-free.

Refillable; 3 Cleveland Place East, London Road; tel: 01225 444477; www.refillable.shop

FOOD & DRINK S N A P S H O T S O F B AT H ’ S F O O D S C E N E

© SOPHIE BOLESWORTH

Charlotte Archer offers bespoke catering services, cookery classes and health coaching

FOOD FOR THOUGHT CHARLOTTE ARCHER The private chef, health coach and educator gives the lowdown on her favourite foods.

the outside but tender and creamy flesh on the inside from braising.

Going back for another is going to be my ‘after Covid’ reward.

What’s your desert island dish?

Dahl. I am ever so slightly obsessed.

Oh, and garlic tiger prawns.

I don’t know… maybe dahl topped with garlic tiger prawns?

What’s your failsafe fast food recipe?

Carbonara. It’s quick to make, very few ingredients are needed and it’s pure comfort in a bowl.

What’s your best ever food memory?

Growing up, my father was in the army and when we were posted out to Brunei there was this tiny – I mean tiny – takeaway called the Hole in the Wall selling freshly made local Asian food. It had the best spring rolls and Singapore noodles ever.

As an adult, that’s slightly trickier to answer. I am lucky that my friends and family are all really foodie so I have had the opportunity to taste and eat some incredible dishes and ingredients. I also judge and am a co-ordinator for The Great Taste Awards and some of the produce that is entered is really quite phenomenal. But if I had to choose one… I ate the most incredible octopus at the restaurant Palomar in London just before lockdown. Crispy and charred on

What’s your dinner party staple?

Lamb shawarma with flatbreads, humous, herby pomegranate and bulger salad, a roast butternut squash and smoked aubergine salad, and a bean, hazelnut and preserved lemon salad. All can be done in advance and the meat slowly cooks so I am able to spend maximum time with my friends and guests.

48 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Buttered toasted ciabatta with fresh anchovies, always.

What’s food do you find totally gross?

Tomato ketchup! I just don’t get the hype. It’s acidic, sweet and overpowers all other elements on the plate.

For more: www.charlottearcher.com

Enjoy a bun with a view

SWEET DEAL Get your buns to Alexandra Park: the Choux Box Patisserie now has a permanent pitch. You can now get fresh choux buns, macaroons, coffee and hot chocolate from the Choux Box van at the view point.

“Before lockdown, my business focused on providing bespoke services for weddings and big celebrations, as well as taking part in food festivals and events,” explains Orlando Partner, owner and the chef behind the buns.

“Since Covid however, and it’s obvious effect on the hospitality industry, I redirected my skills to offering a delivery service to the local area, which has proven to be very popular. We have now confirmed a permanent pitch at Alexandra Park.” Orlando will be in the park Fridays 9am-12pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm.

For more: www.thechouxboxpatisserie.com Orlando Partner switched to a mail-order model to get through the pandemic – it proved popular!

FOOD & DRINK NEWS

ALE FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Meg and Nat launched The Happy Donut during lockdown and it has thrived ever since

Vegan treats even dairy fiends will love

Bath Cats and Dogs Home has teamed up with local craft beer specialists Electric Bear Brewing Company to launch a new bespoke pale ale called Fur-Ever Home.

A 30p donation from every can sold will go to the animal charity to help continue their vital work.

Fur-Ever Home is vegan and available individually and in cases of 12 and 24 from Electric Bear’s web shop, the Brewery Taproom at The Maltings industrial estate and their various stockists throughout the South West.

For more: www.electricbearbrewing.com

Every can sold benefits Bath’s animals in-need

DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY Meg Smith and Nat Morris started The Happy Donut Co during lockdown. Meg was finishing up her degree, meanwhile Nat was furloughed and had wanted to start a business for a while, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

They could not have predicted how quickly demand for their vegan donuts would explode.

“Initially, the idea was that this would turn into a Saturday side-hustle at the market,” Meg explains. “But, with the power of social media, we had more orders than we could handle. It’s now Nat’s full-time job and my part-time job.

We’ve had to buy a bigger car for all the deliveries and move to a two-bed flat to store our stock, and have a decent size kitchen to operate from.”

Every donut is hand made by Meg and Nat and delivered by them to Bath, Bristol and the surrounding areas. “Our mission is to disrupt the ‘eww that’s vegan’ mindset. Our products are vegan, but not exclusively for vegans. There’s no ‘planty’ taste, and we’ve been told that you would never be able to tell they’re vegan – we have to agree.”

They’ve recently expanded their range with a new Brookie Pizza (cookie base, topped with double stuffed Oreos, brownie loaded with vegan marshmallows, lotus biscuits and chocolate chunks.) and have further plans to expand.

For more: www.thehappydonut.co.uk

Peter Milton can’t wait to get to know the Widcombe locals

HAVE A BUTCHER’S Larkhall Butchers is opening a new shop on Widcombe High Street. In the former site of the Cakery Café, the shop will sell meat from local farms, including their own family farm, Ivy House Dairy. There’ll be local cheese and Marshfield ice cream in store too.

“We have been looking to add an additional location to our Larkhall shop for some time,”

says Peter Milton, owner of Larkhall Butchers. The support that we have had from everybody during lockdown has been just incredible and the Widcombe postcodes are definitely some of our best customers, so it made perfect sense to choose here as our next home. We are so excited to join the other incredible shops and really get to know the locals.”

For more: www.larkhallbutchers.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 49

SHOPPING LIVE WELL, BUY BETTER

Barbour Swanage jacket, £279 Barbour Roseate knit, £84.95

HAPPY FEET

Hands up who walked during lockdown?

Us too. We loved the act of 10,000 stepping our way back to some sense of normality, and in the process, discovered so many parts of Bath we’d never seen before. And we’re not stopping now – why would we? In fact we’ve hiked up our hiking game – over on page 34 there’s a new Bath walking guide, and overleaf you’ll find accessories to accompany you both on your walk, but stylish enough for those country pub pit stops.

Barbour stockists: Orvis Bath, 1 Pulteney Bridge, Bath; www.orvis.co.uk; and available from www.barbour.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 51

ROMNEY’S KENDAL MINT CAKE – CHOCOLATE 40G, 40p p Delicious tasting, and packed full of glucose, these famous mint cakes have been fuelling trekkers, hikers and explorers since 1918.

From The Bath Bushcraft Shop, 151 Locksbrook Rd, Bath; www.thebathbushcraftshop.com

KALEA PRINTED CORD JOGGERS, £88 This tapered pair of cotton and elastane, animal print joggers lend everyday comfort for lazy strolls but are just tailored enough to bring style to your country pub stop off en route.

From Anthropologie, 1-4 New Bond St, Bath; www.anthropologie.com

WALK THIS WAY A few locally sourced, best foot forward, accessories to coincide with our new Bath walks guide on page 34

POLO RALPH LAUREN CASHMERE HAT, £65 Keep your head warm with this beauty. Crafted from a soft blend of wool and cashmere, the hat features a cable-knit design in addition to a ribbed brim adorning the signature Ralph Lauren Polo embroidered branding.

From Jollys House of Fraser, 13 Milsom St, Bath; www.houseoffraser.co.uk

HIKER BOOT, £280 The lace up boot in Oxblood Grain features a Goodyear Welted ‘Commando’ rubber sole for greater longevity and grip, and is fully leather lined with a leather insole for added comfort.

From The Brogue Trader, 15 Green Street Bath; www.thebroguetrader.com

THERMO POT, £39.95 This stainless steel, leak-proof food flask will keep your food piping hot for up to six hours, and cold for eight hours. It also includes a convenient spoon which is snugly magnetised to the side of the body.

From Rossiters of Bath, 38-41 Broad Street, Bath; www.rossitersofbath.com

52 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

ED’S CHOICE BELLEROSE LAOS JACKET, £280 The sell-out Laos coat from Bellerose is back, reworked this season in a beautiful navy colour. Cut with an oversized, roomy fit, this cosy coat features a comfortable hood with faux fur lining, elasticated cuffs and contrasting drawstring in the hood.

From Maze, 19 Green Street, Bath; www.mazeclothing.co.uk

ON FOOT IN BATH: FIFTEEN WALKS AROUND A WORLD HERITAGE CITY, BY ANDREW SWIFT, £15 These fifteen walks take the reader to the un-obvious parts of the city, but still in and around the World Heritage Site, to explore hidden treasures.

From The Oldfield Park Bookshop, 43 Moorland Rd, Bath; www.theoldfieldparkbookshop.co.uk

ANNABEL COLOURBLOCK FLIP MITT, £25 The reason these made the cut is fingerless gloves that double up as mittens is a must-have for all walkers. Need to check GoogleMaps? One quick flick of the lid and you’re good to go.

From The White Stuff, 8-9 New Bond Street, Bath; www.whitestuff.com

PADDED PAK’R PUFFED NYLON BACKPACK BY EASTPAK, £150 Inspired by puffer anoraks, this is made from bonded khaki nylon which is lightweight and waterproof, but also big enough to add whatever you might need – flask, packed lunch, and a compass maybe.

From John Anthony, 26-28 High Street, Bath; www.john-anthony.com

SMALL CHECK MULBERRY SCARF, £125 A classic woven scarf in pine green with yellow check. Made in the UK from 100 per cent lambswool, finished with fringing and the embroidered Mulberry signature.

From Mulberry, 38 Milsom Street, Bath; www.mulberry.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 53

GARDENS

COURTING FAVOUR

Nick Woodhouse delves into the fascinating history of Kilver Court and explores its incredible gardens with the current owner and designer, Mulberry’s Roger Saul Words and photos by Nick Woodhouse

I

t was by chance that Roger Saul came across Kilver Court in his search for a new home for his international fashion brand, Mulberry. The usual route he would take from their factory in Chilcompton to his Glastonbury home at Sharpham Park was closed, the diversion taking him instead through Shepton Mallet. It was here he spotted a for sale sign for the former international headquarters of Allied Domecq, the drinks group. It had been vacant for two years, but with its gardening team carefully maintaining the grounds for its new owners.

Roger, a keen plant enthusiast and gardener, was enthralled.

and home to some 20 mills, some of which once stood within the very gardens we see today. Wool production ceased in 1830, provoking riots and the burning of many mills.

In their place, Ernest Jardine, a social reformer and unusually enlightened industrialist created a ‘model factory’, introducing lace-making machines and the gardens, Jardine’s Park for his employees to enjoy. The millponds were used as a boating lake and allotments were provided for workers to grow their own produce.

The Great Depression proved too much for the model however and the factory closed in 1929, the mill buildings becoming empty for some time, and the adjoining gardens earning a new name locally; The Wilderness. The site was finally acquired by the Showering family in the 1950s as part of the expansion of their legendary sparkling perry brand, Babycham. Herbert Showering soon appointed George Whitelegg to recreate a grander version of his Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winning garden in its grounds. To help recreate its mature rockery, Babycham lorries would return from their deliveries across the country with supplies; boulders from the Forest of Dean and turf from as far afield as Cumbria.

When Mulberry moved their headquarters to the site in 1996, Roger was keen to work with the existing garden structures but was

“Babycham lorries would return…with rockery supplies; boulders from the Forest of Dean and turf from as far afield as Cumbria” And unsurprisingly so – the looming arches of the Charlton railway viaduct that tower over the gardens are only a small glimpse of the industrial heritage that this valley holds.

In the late 18th century it became the hub of the region’s burgeoning woollen industry, harnessing the power of the River Sheppey

54 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

equally eager to introduce his own, very personal changes. His love of gardens had in fact started at a young age, his grandmother relaying the Latin names of each of the plants as they walked through her gardens together.

The purchase of Sharpham Park by Roger and his wife Monty in 1977 provided the perfect opportunity to really hone the knowledge and skills he acquired since then.

Its two-acre walled garden was home to thirty metres of herbaceous borders that had fallen out of control.

Roger took his inspiration for the project from the gardens of Hestercombe in Somerset, created in the early twentieth century by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. It was here, with its rills, pergola and stonework structures that Roger leant two lessons that he holds dear today; that structure in a garden is everything, and the enduring need for constant surprise. Jekyll’s planting schemes have long been inspirational to Roger too, so much so that he nominated the garden designer as his subject when invited to contribute to the BBC Great Lives series.

Roger would often head to the nursery at Hadspen House near Castle Cary when buying plants for Sharpham. Here, he built a close relationship with Nori and Sandra Pope, who had created the famed and breath-taking plantings within Hadspen’s walled parabola, taking visitors through seamless gradations through the colour spectrum in the most extraordinary detail. So it only seemed natural that Roger would turn to Nori and Sandra for advice when looking to turn the corporate rose gardens of Kilver Court into something more personal, something more inviting. Roger

clockwise from top left: Kilver Court

owner and founder of Mulberry, Roger Saul; Wiggly Shed Nursery Shop; the gardens are ever-evolving; Roger designed the parterre himself

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 55

GARDENS

In the mid 19th century the millponds were used as a boating lake by the factory employees

had just formed Mulberry Home, the brand’s new interiors arm and one influenced at the time by deep, pre-Raphaelite colours. He was keen to reflect this drama in his planting. New herbaceous borders were soon introduced with purple, dark red, gold and pewter colour tones framing a new parterre designed by Roger himself.

evergreen magnolia that flank the buildings and frame the views to the viaduct were picked up in Tuscany by the Mulberry team on their lorry, returning from a fashion show on Milan.

The acers and water channels cutting through the rockery, an ode to his time in Japan.

The gardens have been maintained by the same two gardeners for over a quarter of a century; horticulturalist Chris Bath starting in 1979 and Chris Inchley, who joined him four years later. Despite this continuity, the gardens are everevolving and most recently saw the restoration of the herbaceous borders that sit beyond the 15-metre-high viaduct. The original borders here, Roger explains, just didn’t work and he didn’t quite know which course to take. It was a visit from Michael Eavis that prompted him to act; his friend looked perplexed and enquired as to what had happened to the borders. Roger decided to act, removing the straight borders, and replacing them with curved counterparts, reflecting the shape of those very arches that tower above them. Although the resulting borders are just two years old, the new planting scheme is flourishing and again takes inspiration from Hadspen, starting with yellows and continuing

“The gardens have been maintained by the same two gardeners for over a quarter of a century” My tour of the gardens by Roger starts here, at the parterre. From here we walk through the rockery, the lawns under the arches, to the stumpery and past the dovecot leading to the millpond and weir. As we walked through each of the distinct and individual areas of the gardens, the influence of his travels and his passion for the space is clear. The inspiration for the parterre itself came from the geometric designs of the Place des Invalides in Paris, a city he visited regularly for work. The

56 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

through the colour spectrum through to deep bronzes.

Our tour finishes with a visit to the Wiggly Shed Nursery Shop, named after the corrugated tin roof that sits upon it. Again, it’s a very personal space, with arched timber framed windows reclaimed from Mulberry’s London store and items hand-picked by Roger and Monty for the garden. As we arrive, a customer had just popped in, leaving behind her a small black and white photo from 1956, for Roger and the team to see. It showed a timber-framed building which once sat within the very gardens, her temporary home for a while. Perhaps a reminder that we are all custodians of our gardens for the present, here to preserve them for future generations.

I think those generations will look particularly favourably on today’s vision for Kilver Court.

For more: Kilver Court Garden, Shepton Mallet; www.kilvercourt.com Nick Woodhouse is the co-director of interior and garden design company Woodhouse & Law on 4 George’s Place, Bathwick Hill, Bath; 01225 428072; www.woodhouseandlaw.co.uk

SHOPPING Peregrine

The Great House is a treasure trove of home accessories

Lavenham

IN A CONSTANT STATE OF LUXE Along with its gardens, Kilver Court is a gorgeous outlet shopping village, awash with designer brands and fab food

By Elsie Chadwick

W

e’ve explored the amazing gardens but let’s not forget the incredible shopping aspect to Kilver Court. Well, we say shopping, but this is no ordinary retail experience. First up, Kilver Court is home to the world-famous Mulberry Factory Shop – the fashion label founded by Kilver owner Roger Saul in the 1970s. Visitors to the Shepton Mallet site can shop an exclusive range of the Mulberry bags, shoes and accessories at hugely discounted prices.

The Great House lifestyle bazaar contains an inspirational treasure trove of decorative items, home accessories, gifts, and furniture, with high-end brands such as Garden Trading, Neom Organics, Gisella Graham, and Daylesford.

There’s also a food hall selling locally-sourced food and drink products including Conker Gin, Enjoy produce grown in the Kilver Court gardens

Averys Wine and Godminster cheese.

And when you’re done, or before you start, or just come for this alone – there’s the newly refurbished Garden Kitchen restaurant with many of the ingredients grown in the Court’s organic vegetable garden used in the dishes, and also many using Roger’s organic range of spelt-based products from nearby Sharpham Park farm.

Plus there’s more than 50 top end fashion clothes stores offering up to 70 per cent off their usual prices all year round, including M.i.h Jeans, Cefinn, Gushlow and Cole, Bamford, Billy Reid, Chinti and Parker, Paul Smith, Whistles and more, including these desirable designers...

CABBAGES & ROSES

Cabbages & Roses, started in 2000 by former Vogue journalist Christina Strutt, has evolved into a cult brand renowned for its wholesome and comforting interpretation of British fashion.

Quality, uniqueness and fair prices for everyone involved in the provenance of its product remain at the core of its ethos.

PEREGRINE

Peregrine has been manufacturing quality knitwear and outerwear since 1796. It is still very much a family brand, and the managing director, Tom Glover, is the eighth generation of Glover.

Cabbages & Roses

Every step from the very first design to the final stitch is executed here in the UK.

LAVENHAM

In 1969, founder Mrs Elliot designed the world’s first nylon quilted horse rug in Lavenham, Suffolk, and while the empire expanded, the products are still made in their own local factory. The quilting uses expert techniques to produce a textile that’s light but warm, and lends itself perfectly to the modern, layered wardrobe.

The wadding is made of 65 per cent recycled fibres, and if your treasured Lavenham piece gets worn, they’ll repair it.

JOSEPH

Established in 1972, JOSEPH has been bringing sophisticated designer clothing to the creative and cool, as well as the fashion forward Kate Moss, Keira Knightley and Kate Middleton, for over 40 years, while championing some of the most creative designers, including Prada and Azzedine Alaia.

For more: www.kilvercourt.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 57

Nigel Dando WE BUY Gold, Silver & Platinum in any form or condition.

Nigel Dando 11 Pulteney Bridge, Bath BA2 4AY Tel/Fax: 01225 464013 www.nigeldando.co.uk

Repairs, Restoration Alteration of Stone Buildings New Build Stone Cleaning Stone Carving Fireplaces

Tel: 01225 462688 / 07968 697091 Email: Julian@bathstonemasons.co.uk

www.bathstonemasons.co.uk

Luxury & local The most sophisticated audience is just a call away...

Bath Life Team 01225 475800

SHOPPING GUIDE

SHOPPING AUTUMN / WINTER 2020

GUIDE It is our wonderful array of independent shops which make Bath so vibrant and unique.

Get into the creative heart of the community with these innovative indies – right on our doorstep

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 59

SHOPPING GUIDE

60 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOPPING GUIDE

HOMEFRONT INTERIORS

Homefront Interiors is a small independent store which stocks an eclectic mix of homewares, interior pieces, gifts, cards and art prints. Their ethos is that of sustainability and fair trade, whether that be items from small scale producers, local talented artists, reclaimed or recycled. The shop is a carefully curated treasure trove, perfect for gift-shopping or finding those small finishing touches for your home. To enable more customers to reach their store and buy their products, they have become part of the Trouva.com online community of independent boutiques, which allows them to offer a great online service too.

Homefront Interiors Ltd, 10 Margaret’s Buildings, Bath BA12LP; 01225 571 711; www.homefrontinteriors.co.uk; www.trouva/boutiques/homefrontinteriors.com

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 61

SHOPPING GUIDE

62 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

SHOPPING GUIDE

64 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Reach the best in the west Affluent, active and influential and just a call away

Bath Life team 01225 475800

HEALTH & BEAUTY

CLOCKWISE: No.45 has a new, slick look;

Natasha Adams, now the owner of the Moorland Road salon; my finished look

GETTING THE CHOP

Lydia Tewkesbury visits No. 45 Hairdressing for a much-needed cut and blow dry

T

he truth is, I hadn’t had a haircut since February. Yes, lockdown happened in that time – it was a good excuse, for a while – but then salons reopened in July and it was past time for me to book an appointment. Why didn’t I? You could blame the apathy and anxiety that has characterised 2020, but the truth is a lot simpler – and more embarrassing. With the magazine on hold while we all navigated our way through the Covid crisis and therefore no reviews to write, I had no one holding me accountable for my own hair.

It turns out Bath Life keeps me presentable.

Fortunately for me, Natasha Adams, the new owner of No. 45 Hairdressing (previously Parks Hairdressing) on Moorland Road, was understanding when I explained The Situation – how I had begun referring to my hair by that point. She said she would sharpen her scissors.

Natasha is the new owner of No. 45, yes, but she’s worked at the salon for the past nine years in a managerial role. When the chance to buy came up mid-lockdown, despite the uncertainty for the country in general and her industry in particular, she took the leap. She’s given the place a fresh new look as well as a new name, and the result is modern and stylish.

One of my favourite things about my experience at No.45 was the convenience of it.

Natasha stays open until 8pm on Tuesday and Thursdays – a total dream for working people resentful of losing a chunk of their weekend at the salon but never able to sneak out of the office

(or whatever your current WFH set up) for a quick chop. Now I truly won’t have any excuse for letting my hair get in such a bad way again.

That, and it makes for a really nice treat to look forward to at the end of a hectic work day.

When it comes to instructing hairdressers, I am vague at best. ‘Kind of like now, but shorter and, you know, better?’ is my typical ask (hairdressers of Bath, I am sorry). Natasha was more than happy to take control of The Situation. My biggest hair problem – and the reason I should and will start getting cuts more regularly – is its thickness. If not kept under control, over the course of months my gently waving locks turn into a frizzy sheet that hangs heavy around my face – if I start exclusively sporting a pony tail, you know I’ve let it happen again. Because of the way my hair waves an intricately layered cut doesn’t tend to work for me either (it goes all kinds of flicky). Natasha expertly took the weight out of it without pushing me to go for layers, leaving me with a cut that falls light and natural around my face with minimal fuss needed, and I couldn’t be happier.

No. 45 Hairdressing is luxury and relaxing space to unwind while you have your cut, and Natasha an expert but friendly and thoroughly approachable stylist – I had total confidence in her from the off. A lovely option in the midst of the thriving and eclectic Moorland Road, I’ll definitely be back. ■

SPRAYS & SERUMS

MOROCCANOIL Treatment Formulated for the needs of light hair, this anti-oxidant rich treatment left my hair shiny and soft TIGI BED HEAD HEADRUSH Shine Spray A lightweight shine mist with a conditioning complex that softens and improves manageability WELLA PROFESSIONALS EIMI Thermal Image A heat protection spray that works in two phases. Phase one nourishes and protects from heat and phase two smooths.

For more: No 45 Moorland Road, BA2 3PN; tel: 01225 448887; www.no45hairdressing.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 67

It’s the city’s business

BATHWORKS THIS ISSUE >>E-SCOOTERS COME TO BATH (69) >>LIBRARY OF THINGS DELIVERY SERVICE (70) >>BATH KITCHEN COMPANY (76)

© VOI TECHNOLOGY

Scooters: the best way to travel?

Lucy Yu, Tim Bowles and Dine Romero at the Bath launch of the e-scooter initiative

Scoot over Bath is joining a pilot scheme that’ll see a new mode of public transport take to the roads of our city: the electric scooter. Bath is one of a handful of locations involved in the West of England trial of the e-scooter scheme, which it is hoped will provide an eco-friendly and Covid-safe alternative mode of public transportation. For the next 12 months, you’ll be able to hire a Voi Technology e-scooter to get around the city. Even better, the scheme brings 60 new jobs to the area.

“With social distancing in place on public transport, our e-scooter trial is a chance for us to try a new, low carbon way to get our region moving, particularly up and down the big hills we have in both Bristol and Bath,” says Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor. Initially, there will be 50 scooters available for hire in Bath, with more set to become available over the coming months. The scooters cost £1 to unlock and 20p per minute to use, with subscription options and discounts

available for students, key workers and those on low incomes.

To learn more about how it’s all going to work, visit: www.voiscooters.com

*T&C’s apply

1% OF THE FEE YOU PAY IS DONATED TO YOUR LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL* With normal fundraising for schools being non-existent they need our help more than ever.

Help us to help your school by selling your home with Bath Stone Property.

Sales and Letting

Contact the Bath Stone Property team today for help and advice on how we can get you moving safely.

Visit us online: www.bathstoneproperty.com | Tel: 01225 422224

MEDIACLASH.CO.UK 115

LIBRARY OF THINGS Bath’s Library of Things has seen a surge in demand since relocating to the city centre in the summer, and now its lending options are expanding further with a new delivery service. Based on Broad Street, the Library stocks a wide range of useful items that you can borrow for a week or so for a small fee.

The charity behind the scheme, Share And Repair, has been loaned a cargo bike by B&NES Council so it can test out the service to assess demand.

“The bike means people will no longer need to make a special journey into town to pick up or drop off their

loans, which will help us all reduce traffic congestion and car emissions,” says Lorna Montgomery, founder of Share And Repair.

As well as helping the environment, deliveries could prove useful for anyone shielding over the winter, or who’s otherwise unable to travel into town.

Share And Repair also holds regular repair sessions at the Broad Street store and at venues around Bath, where teams of volunteers fix everything from clothes to coffee makers. Thanks to the cargo bike, items for repair can now be collected and returned.

For more: www.shareandrepair.org.uk

The Library of Things on Broad Street now offers deliveries by bike

WYLDE CHILD Eight-year-old Matilda is the proud winner of Wylde Jeweller’s Kids Jewellery Design Competition. Picked from around 50 entrants age 6-16, Matilda’s winning floral circular pendant design has been turned into the real thing – a beautiful sterling silver set with coloured enamels. Matilda was overjoyed with the result, calling the pendant ‘awesome’ and ‘so shiny’ – and, during her visit to the store with her mother, owner Nicholas Wylde commented that he would be only too happy to interview her for a job when the day comes.

For more: www.nicholaswylde.com

70 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

© ADAM CARTER

BATHWORKS

Tamsin Harrisson, Jon Morgan and Charlotte Snowden enjoying last year’s celebration

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN The clock is ticking to nominate your company for the Bath Property Awards. Nominations close on Thursday 26 November at midday.

The Awards are open to any company working in the property scene in Bath, whether as an agent, developer, architect, designer or property-focused financial and legal company.

Finalists will be revealed at midday on 2 December by email, Twitter and on the Awards site.

“It’s been inspiring to see the amount of interest yet again for the Bath Property Awards despite the current situation,” says Annie Miekus, manager at MediaClash, organisers of the Bath Property Awards. “If you’ve not entered yet, there’s still time – it’s never been more needed to celebrate all of the well-earned achievements in our community.”

Companies self-nominate via the Awards website and can enter multiple categories.

Hundreds of companies have got involved so far, whether as judges, nominees, attendees or sponsors like Headline sponsor Mogers Drewett, APS Homes, Hawker Joinery, L&C Mortgages, Spaces, South West Business Finance, Triangle Networks and Bath Life itself.

For more information on how to get involved through sponsorship, please contact annie.kelly@mediaclash.co.uk www.bathpropertyawards.co.uk @BathPropertyAwd

Matilda was thrilled to see her design brought to life

NEW to Bath Meet the new faces on the Bath business scene

MOVERS AND SHAKERS ETC EUREKA MOMENT

Sammy Burt is using her branding expertise in her new company, BACKPACK

Sammy Burt, brand and culture partner What does BACKPACK do?

The short answer is brand and culture, but in truth BACKPACK works with organisations to help them better understand what they are when they’re at their best – to define it, embed it and live it!

By listening to their people, their customers and the marketplace, we can define the experience that is already true when the organisation is at its best. Then we apply that to every aspect of the company, from brand and communication to cultural alignment.

We bring people together, help them hear one another and galvanise them to act.

BACKPACK is now a BCorp.

What does that mean for you?

I believe that anyone that has the honour of someone’s attention has a responsibility to that audience. A Bcorp defines the example they want to set and is held accountable for it.

BCorp aims to create a movement

of businesses that balance profit and purpose. Although BACKPACK is just me for now, I want to start as I mean to go on – with purpose firmly in my strategy, the business infrastructure and the financial planning.

It means so much to be alongside BCorps like Patagonia, Riverford, Pukka and TOMS, having a proactive and positive impact on the world, however small that is (for now!).

What have been some of the challenges of setting up?

BACKPACK started in March 2020, so I should probably say ‘starting a business during lockdown’ – but in truth, I have been hugely lucky to have secured some awesome organisations and projects both locally and internationally pretty quickly. My biggest challenge was actually capacity, and maintaining a work/life harmony with a toddler at home in the first couple of months.

As a family we rolled with it, and clients entertained the odd snotty cameo on Zoom.

For more: www.yourbackpack.co.uk

Dr Asel Sartbaeva from the University of Bath has won the Emerging Technologies competition run by the Royal Society of Chemistry Dr Asel Satbaeva’s work could help children around the globe get vaccinated RSC for her breakthrough work making vaccines safer for children around the globe. Dr Sartnaeva and her team from the Department of Chemistry are being recognised for their ensilication system, which allows vaccines to be transported and stored without refrigeration – even at temperatures as high as 100°C. “This win means a lot not just for me but for all in our team. Having recognition from the RSC is really important – it will help us connect with vaccine manufacturers to build new partnerships, which is what we need right now,” says Dr Sartbaeva. www.bath.ac.uk

STRAIGHT SHOOTERS

Chartered accountants Haines Watts have joined the Team Bath netball family as the Superleague side’s principal sponsor.

“We have both staff and clients who are already netball fans and this felt like a way of showing support for them, too,” says Geoffrey Fairclough, a director of Haines Watts in Bristol.

“We have watched the growth of netball in our region and the strength, determination and professionalism of the women behind Team Bath netball who are making this a true South West success story on the national stage. We hope to help them continue to flourish on this journey.”

For more: www.hwca.com

NEW FACES

Yasmine Machin is joining Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors, one of Wiltshire’s leading law firms. A highly experienced licensed conveyancer, Yasmine specialises in residential conveyancing.

“We knew Yasmine was the perfect fit for us as she demonstrates our three core values. She’s prompt, proactive and enjoys working closely with her clients, using her extensive, real-life expertise to ensure that their move proceeds smoothly and successfully,” says Ronna Turley, partner and head of conveyancing at Awdry Bailey & Douglas. www.awdrys.co.uk

BATHWORKS

MAN ABOUT TOWN Independent menswear retailer Suave Owl has moved to Bath.

Their new premises on Milsom Street is more than ten times the size of their former space in Keynsham, which they opened back in 2017. With the help of a £40,000 funding package from NatWest, Suave Owl’s founders Anthony and Jessica Harvey have transformed their new Milsom Street building into a three-story retail space, showroom and business HQ. “Keynsham was the ideal location to establish our business but we wanted to expand and relocate to a location with increased footfall. Thanks to the funding from NatWest, we have been able to secure a central position on one of the best shopping streets in the UK,” says Anthony. “We are excited to

© HARRIET MAT THEWS

Annie Sloan is a colour expert, artist and author

The WEIoT launch was, as you’d expect, virtual and high-tech

FUTURE THINKERS Anthony and Jessica have given their Milsom Street shop a complete overhaul

build our customer base from our new Bath store, grow our team and expand our offering for both men and women in the coming months.”

For more: www.suaveowl.co.uk

The West of England Institute for Technology (WEIoT) opened last month. A consortium of education providers and key employers across the West of England, the WEIoT counts Bath College among its number. Institutes of Technology will be at the forefront of technical training, offering STEM education and training to prepare students for a career in key sectors like advanced manufacturing, engineering, construction and infrastructure and digital.

“Bath College is delighted to be part of this ground-breaking initiative,” says Laurel Penrose, principal and chief executive of Bath College. “The opportunities this will bring to our students through the collaboration with employers and fellow colleges and universities is significant as it brings together the expertise of industry, state-of-the-art resources and strength and depth of Further Education skills delivery. This will be of huge benefit to Bath and North East Somerset, as well as the whole wider region.”

For more: www.bathcollege.ac.uk

ALL KEYED UP The Piano Shop Bath has sold a one-of-a-kind instrument for charity. The John Broadwood piano was transformed at the hands of famed chalk painter Annie Sloan and the stool created by artist Charlotte Macmillian, with proceeds from the sale of the unique piece going to the Arts & Culture Programme at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW). Run by UHBW’s charity Above & Beyond, the £2,495 from the sale will support projects ‘above and beyond’ what the NHS can provide – in this case, research into the health benefits of the arts.

“Annie has hand painted and signed the piano which makes this piece totally unique,” says Jon Kelly, owner of The Piano Shop Bath. Along with Charlotte, we were all very keen to do something to honour and help our healthcare workers and this seemed like the perfect way to do just that. The piano and stool are beautiful and will make wonderful, eye-catching additions.”

For more: www.thepianoshopbath.co.uk

The one-off piano sold for £2,495

BATHWORKS “I LEARNT HOW TO MAKE BESPOKE, HANDMADE SUITS USING CLASSIC ENGLISH TAILORING TECHNIQUES” quality clothes, and wearing them longer. Better fitting clothes get worn more often and for longer because they make wearer feel more confident.

Tell us more about the bespoke tailoring service.

Initial consultation takes around an hour. During that, we discuss what the client wants before guiding them through style options and designs, helping them choose the cloth, position of the pockets or shape of the lapel.

Once they’ve decided what they want, I take up to 40 measurements and assess the posture and look to accentuate the client’s best features.

Ben ran a family clothing manufacturing unit in Istanbul

BIZ Q&A

City Tailors Ben Aydin has run City Tailors on Milsom Street for the last decade. Here, he lets us in on a few secrets of the industry First of all, tell us about City Tailors. What service do you provide?

At City Tailors we provide bespoke tailoring, made to measure suits and clothing alteration, including leather garments and vintage clothing restorations.

You’ve had the business in Bath for about 10 years. What’s the secret to your longevity?

We established a great network with local retailers and boutiques by building trust that the quality of service we provide is always the same, so they can offer those services to their customers knowing that the work will be done perfectly every time. Doing what we do best each and every time helps us to stay in business.

Have you always been a tailor?

I’ve been in the clothing business from a young age. I was running our family clothing manufacturing unit in Istanbul at the age of 17, which was set up by

my brother Mehmet and I. I moved to London in 1995 and was running a textile factory by 1998, by then making many different types of clothing. Becoming a tailor was a surprise; we were running a men’s outfitter’s business in Swindon where I met master tailor John Virgo, who was a Saville Row tailor.

Working alongside John, I learnt how to make bespoke, handmade suits using classic English tailoring techniques – I’ve been using the same technique to make suits for the past 15 years.

What does a typical day at City Tailors look like for you?

I am performing fittings for alterations throughout the day, working with the team to make sure all work is completed to our high standards. There’ll be several visits to the retailers such as TM Lewin, Gieves and Hawkes, Moss Bros etc., to do fittings for their clients and work on making bespoke suits.

What are some of challenges in your industry?

There is a skills shortage. The tailors using classic English tailoring techniques are mostly retired or reaching retirement age. It takes years to develop the skills to become a tailor and we don’t have enough young people getting into the industry.

What do you love about your work?

I love being creative and designing suits and outfits, and seeing the resulting suit on. I also enjoy clients coming with an outfit that doesn’t fit them and trusting us to alter or redesign it.

Have you noticed the drive for sustainability and keeping clothes for longer impacting your client base?

We have seen more people coming to get existing clothes altered, repaired or modernised. I have also noticed that more people are investing in

How long does the whole process take?

A suit would be ready for basted fitting – where the suit is put together with temporary stitches – within three weeks. During this first fitting adjustments are made, and a second fitting is planned – this is when the garment will be closer to the final product. There might be more fittings required to achieve best possible fit, so timing varies.

What advice do you have for someone purchasing a bespoke garment for the first time?

Do your research, have a clear idea of what the suit is required for, and an idea of the colour and style you would want.

Then, book an appointment for a free consultation with a tailor and arrive prepared with a list of questions to ask such as, where the suit will be made, the process, the tailor’s experience. Always check your tailor’s work and listen to their recommendations.

What do you look for in a good suit?

Fabric quality is vital. I go for 100 per cent wool, a floating or full canvas construction and a slight roll on the lapel. Good fit on shoulders and sleeve length is vital too. The best dressed man sticks to a classic that would look good today, and in 20 years’ time.

For more: City Tailors; 1st Floor, 25 Milsom Street; tel: 01225 920263; www.citytailors.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 73

Successful, well-established year-round language school in the centre of Bath requires

HOMESTAY HOSTS IN BATH to host both short-term and long-term students.

We teach adults and teenagers, and need both single and twin-room accommodation.

For further details, including rates of payment, please contact our Accommodation Manager: Sarah Wringer, Kaplan International Languages Bath, 5 Trim Street, Bath, BA1 1HB Direct Line (01225) 473502, Email: sarah.wringer@kaplan.com

BATHWORKS

a well-designed kitchen?

The harmony between functionality and design. It should be a space that equally feels like you have everything at your fingertips to cook, and also the aesthetics to entertain. We recently had a client who returned from holiday, and when they walked in the kitchen, they just smiled and felt they were home.

The kitchen is the core of the house, and it should naturally draw the family together.

BIZ Q&A

James Horsfall, Bath Kitchen Company Now in its 30th year, James Horsfall shares the secrets to Bath Kitchen Company’s longevity Tell us about coming up in the family business. Did you always know you’d join Bath Kitchen Company?

It was never my plan to join the business, but after living abroad for a number of years, on my return I started working part time with my dad, who started the company, and worked my way up from there. This is our 30th year designing and making kitchens in Bath, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this legacy.

What was apprenticing with your dad like?

It was an amazing opportunity my dad gave me, allowing to work with him, and I got to know him so much more though it. Our working style complemented each other, and he took great pride in passing on his wisdom

and knowledge, which I’m incredibly grateful for.

What’s your role now?

My role is director of Bath Kitchen Company. I create every design and oversee every project, making sure that each client is happy from start to finish.

Talk us through a working day...

There isn’t always a typical day for me.

I’ll spend hours in the studio designing, then meeting new people and looking at their homes. I go to visit building sites to see things progressing, and also manage the installation of our projects.

What should people look for in a kitchen design company?

When deciding on a kitchen designer for your home, look for a company with a lot of experience, and a proven

BUSINESS CLUB

track record, somebody who isn’t in a rush, and is willing to give time and thought to each stage of your project – that person will ensure that your dream kitchen is brought to life.

Can you tell us about a project you really loved working on and why I created a kitchen where most of the units were made out of mirrored brass, and this was a very fun project. It was nice to have a challenge, and something different to do, as there are no limits to what we can make. We’ve also been recently asked to design furniture for an orangery, which includes a hidden bar.

What do you consider the most important elements of

What’s your own kitchen like?

After recently getting married, we are about to start our own renovation project in a beautiful Georgian townhouse. At this stage we’re playing around with dark and moody cabinetry, bold calacatta oro marble, and some aged brass finishes. My wife is an interior designer from Sydney, and her love for light and open-plan spaces is something we hope to bring into our home.

What are some of the biggest kitchen trends we should be on the lookout for right now?

The use of bold marble and quartzite is still very popular, and vibrant use of colour. Green and darker hued cabinetry are making a splash, along with the use of oversized lights.

Using materials and products that are eco-friendly and sustainable is always in style.

Who would be your dream client?

My dream client would be chef Yotam Ottolenghi. I’m a huge fan of his cook books, and I love his enthusiasm for colourful, healthy food. When I saw him cook at his last book launch, I could see that his passion and creativity really came through. I can imagine he’d want to be a big part of the design process to create the perfect cook’s kitchen.

For more: Bath Kitchen Company; 7-9 North Parade Buildings, BA1 1NS; tel: 01225 312003; www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

Virtual one hour sessions, all free to attend Search Bath Life on LinkedIn for upcoming dates and registration If you would like to get involved, please email events@mediaclash.co.uk

BATHWORKS

Kent Barker, owner of EIGHT STONY STREET, reflects on the restaurant’s win You won! Congratulations! Talk us through the night I really had no expectation to win.

The category was incredibly strong and we were relatively unknown.

Flats ran through the Awards so the build-up was not horrendous, and my daughter and I were not too nervous – but then we got announced! I was blown away, but luckily Flats is a friend, so no nerves on the stage.

I tried to make a funny speech using a quote from the footballer Vinnie Jones (which was met with stony silence) so I got off fast…

How did you celebrate?

Unfortunately on the night I had to drive (I told you I really was not expecting to win), so the next day with my management team we had a bit of a party and celebrated with Bollinger RD 2004, Corton Charlmagne Grand Cru 2002, and a stunning new world Chardonnay. The award sits on our bar at Eight Stony Street for all to see.

Tell us a little about Eight Stony Street...

I set up Eight Stony Street with the express purpose of bringing wine to customers in a new and exciting way, and to that end we set up our ground-

Vanessa Emery and Kent Barker celebrating their win

RESTAURANT WINNER SPONSORED BY

breaking shop, bar and restaurant just over two years ago and opened for our first customers in February 2019. I’ve been in the wine industry for 25 years so let’s face it – what else can I do?

What do you think it is about your business that helped you secure your Bath Life Award?

We are a vibrant, high energy company that is always looking to improve. We genuinely want to give the people of Frome something they can call their own and be proud of, and I feel this philosophy really shines through.

What does winning the Award mean to you, the team and the business?

It gave our team a huge boost after a hard Christmas and very quiet

“WE GENUINELY WANT TO GIVE THE PEOPLE OF FROME SOMETHING THEY CAN CALL THEIR OWN AND BE PROUD OF” 76 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

© SOUL MEDIA

BATH LIFE AWARDS 2020

January, and – little did we know – also was real positive boost to our spirits as Covid hit in March.

Have you ever collaborated with other local businesses?

I think the collaboration I have been most proud of has been with Bath Life during lockdown, when we ran online wine tastings to raise money for vital and struggling charities. This was a great source of positivity in very tough times and I never cease to be amazed how thankful people were we were doing it.

How might you describe your key clientele?

Our key clientele are a huge range from Frome and wider Somerset who all have in common a love of great food and amazing wine. We see people coming back time after time either for amazing handmade sourdough pizza with a glass of our incredible Italian Falangina (think Pinot on steroids) or a full-blown three-course meal with the local steak from Penleigh Butchers (next door to us) and a bottle from our shop of incredible mature Claret.

What’s your philosophy?

Give our customers the very best time we can whilst they are under our roof, whatever they are there for, and make our employees’ time working for us the very best we can.

What have you found to be the best tools for growth in your business?

Continued customer engagement through events, innovation and

striving every day to better than the last.

Is there someone in business that you admire and try to learn from?

You will never stop learning and I try to take something from every member of the Stony team, be it the guys who work the wash area, my chefs or the senior managers.

Any moment you/the company have been particularly proud of?

Obviously winning the Bath Life Award for Restaurant of the Year was a huge high point. The day we had 80 people on line for one of our Bath Life Eight Stony Street charity tastings was something I will remember for a long time, too.

What has the impact of the pandemic been on Eight Stony Street?

We have been very lucky during the lockdown as we were able to reduce costs hugely and continue delivering pizza and wine throughout. It’s now that we’re feeling the challenge with various restrictions to our business and all support grinding to a halt. Through to spring next year is going to very tough. Luckily we are well placed and financially strong enough to survive for the long term, and we see the next few months as an opportunity to grow and expand our business to a second and even third site.

For more: Eight Stony Street; Frome; 01373 470970; www.eightstonystreet.com

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The right support for the most important purchase you’ll ever make

MEET THE

AGENCY Transform your business with the help of the experts

KEVIN TRIGGLE

CHIEF WONDER DESIGNER, DIGITAL WONDERLAB 01225 220155; www.digitalwonderlab.com You’ve changed your name, tell us more about that?

Yes, its ‘hello’ to Digital Wonderlab! Exciting times for us, whilst not an ideal time to have a launch party, it’s certainly a good time to make this change – and for all the right reasons. Our previous name had outlived its purpose and didn’t reflect that we are about technology with purpose. We needed to be more distinctive, understood, and easily found by those who need us. Our ‘why’ is to delight our clients and the people they care about the most, to make life easier for society, to help organisations grow, and to give new businesses a great start using digital to lead the way.

What sets you apart from other agencies?

We strive to help organisations across various sectors, especially those with a social purpose, to create and manage change that matters through digital transformation. We are fairly unique as we start with the ‘why’ and work through where our clients see themselves in the future – their vision. Helping them see things differently and gain clarity in what can be achieved enables us to turn their ambitious goals into reality through beautifully crafted technology. We like nothing better than empowering people to make a 78 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

difference, supporting them to punch above their weight by helping them do more, do it better and do it faster! It has always been important to us to enhance user experience from the very start of any project we work on. It forms an important part of our customer-centric approach to designing the software solutions – whether that’s a website, mobile app, or custom piece of middleware connecting all the pieces of the customer’s digital world together and helping them talk to each other.

How have things in your industry changed in the last decade?

So much! Aside from the fact that 10 years ago we’d only just seen the launch of the iPhone 4, the Oculus Rift hadn’t been invented and you were doing very well if your broadband speeds were above 5mbps. As predicted, smartphone usage and availability has soared globally and has overtaken desktop as the primary source of web traffic, not just for consumer but also B2B. The thing I’ve noticed most from a design perspective, especially in the last few years, is we’ve seen a real change in the understanding of the term ‘user experience’ (UX). For years it had been added to every designer’s LinkedIn profile because they’d created some wireframes in Sketch, but over time real experts have emerged in the industry who understand the importance of focusing on the end-to-end experience the user has when dealing with your orgnaisation and why neglecting proper UX is such a mistake.

Which clients are you working with at the moment?

Here at Digital Wonderlab we do a lot of work with charities, and one of the most recent ones we’ve worked with are Cerebral Palsy Cymru. We have also been working on a digital transformation including a new website build with The Charlie Waller Trust, a charity making a huge impact on mental health awareness and support, particularly for younger audiences.

Another large project soon to launch is for a credit union based on the south west. We’ve been working for many months to completely overhaul their online platform, which includes their website, secure members’ portal and application process, to better serve their members as well as improving and automating many of the backend processes.

ADVERTISING FEATURE STUART SMITH

MANAGING DIRECTOR, MOSTLY MEDIA 01225 302270 www.mostlymedia.co.uk

PAUL MACKENZIE-CUMMINS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CLEARLY PR 0333 207 9477; www.clearlypr.co.uk

What sets you apart from other agencies?

Clearly has never and will never sit still. The media landscape is constantly shifting, as is the way in which people want to receive and access information. We are able to adapt extremely quickly and innovate our offering, something which we have demonstrated throughout the last few months. We have a purpose beyond making money; we want to help people and do good.

What sort of clients are you working with at the moment?

We work with local, national and international clients. Our client base includes one of the fastest growing law firms in the south west, a large-scale multinational tech recruitment company, an independent private school, and a global diversity consultancy.

What sort of clients are you working with at the moment?

We work with a wide range of clients across multiple industries. Our longest standing (since 2001) is Harris Fowler, the personal injury solicitor. Others include FreePrints, Glasses Direct and Appeal Home Shading.

Our latest is Look After My Bills, one of the largest ever Dragons’ Den investments.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

Most definitely the day to day variety. One day we are selling an Auto Switch Energy product and the next we are selling Sun Awnings. Getting under the skin of different businesses and understanding how each one operates differently is a real eye opener. One size definitely doesn’t fit all.

What project are you most proud of?

We started working with FreePrints in 2016 when they launched in the UK. Our initial budgets for TV advertising were £10,000.

They have now launched across Europe and spend in the region of £2m a year turning over £67m a year – now that is scaling at pace!

What bespoke services do you offer?

Every business is different, even in a saturated marketplace. Our job is to identify what makes our clients unique and tell that story through creative media relations and content marketing.

What are your plans moving forward?

We have ambitious growth plans. Being based in central Bath, we want to help more local businesses, and, more importantly, we want to create employment opportunities to help those who are currently disadvantaged in the jobs market.

SAMMY BURT

BRAND AND CULTURE, BACKPACK 07850 268509 www.yourbackpack.co.uk What sets you apart from other agencies?

If a business wants to sell itself on its clear and differentiated proposition, then it needs to know what it looks and feels like ‘at its best’ to its clients and colleagues. Digging that out is often where our work starts. But it’s tougher than just the good stuff – it needs to know when and where it isn’t ’at its best’ and close that gap. Then the brand is real. This is what sets Backpack apart – our approach to brand is a whole business one, because your brand is not a one liner or your logo, it’s all you are and all you do in marketing, sales, operations, culture – and yes, even finance.

VERONICA HANNON

MANAGING DIRECTOR, TRANSFORM COMMUNICATIONS LTD 01225 863846 www.transformcommunications.co.uk Will marketing help businesses recover from Covid-19?

As a content marketing & PR consultancy, perhaps you’d think I’d say “Yes. Marketing will solve your problems.” But I don’t believe it is the single cure. Sure, content marketing and PR play an important role, especially to generate leads that would have previously come through events and networking. Marketing needs to be part of your wider strategy and cannot be seen as a panacea.

What are your plans moving forward?

Like most businesses we were hit by Covid-19.

We used the time to be creative, launching a website and proposition which have been incredibly well received. Associate Director Daniel O’Connor and I are in the final stages of launching a new company, offering complementary digital services to our clients.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

I feel incredibly privileged to lead our consultancy.

We get to know, understand, articulate and bring to life the vision for many B2B organisations. As a team we’re all insatiably curious. When our clients say, ‘You guys just get us’, that’s what we find most rewarding.

Why did you get into agency work?

I love the variety of agency work – I love that one minute I am all about positioning of an org dev consultancy to its multinational clients, and next I’m talking about the role of the Western education curriculum in rural Zimbabwe. I’m surrounded by intelligent and passionate people in all sorts of fields and I have the privilege of supporting them and learning from them.

What are your plans moving forward?

To balance performance and purpose we need to forever challenge ourselves. Client projects are bespoke, often the result of identified pain or opportunity. But that way of working financially excludes some organisations - which doesn’t seem fair. To begin answering that inequality January sees the first of a more accessible way of defining strategy with a course that grows capability through doing and results in a robust strategy.

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 79

PROPERTY P L A C E S T O L I V E , W O R K A N D P L AY

The magnificent Eagle House is marked with a plaque to celebrate its historical links to the Suffragette movement

Eagle House

LAND RIGHTS

Two homes have come up for sale in the Eagle House building, which was once a refuge for suffragettes

Annie Kenney, Mary Blathwayt, who lived at Eagle House, and Emmeline Pankhurst, pictured in 1910, planting a tree in a nearby Batheaston field

Emmeline Place is a four-bed private entranced property with its own garden, and taking up one wing of the grade II listed Eagle House in Batheaston. Also up for sale in the same building is the Garden Villa, a three-bed split level home with a courtyard. And whilst Eagle House possesses significant aesthetic and historic value for both its neoclassical façade and links to Bath’s master architect, John Wood the Elder (responsible for Queen Square and The Circus), it is socially significant due to its regular use by suffragettes throughout the early 20th century.

In the 1880s Eagle House belonged to Colonel Linley Blathwayt and his wife Emily who, on retiring, wanted a place to indulge their love of nature and horticulture.

It was during this period the house became synonymous with the suffragette movement. Emily and her daughter Mary attended Bath Women’s Suffrage Society meetings and become increasingly active in the fight for votes of women. The property also acted as a refuge for suffragettes who had been released from prison after hunger strikes, and its notable guests included Emmeline Pankhurst, Adela Pankhurst and Annie Kenney.

Emmeline Place has a guide price of £935,000, while the Garden villa is on for£735,000.

For more: Savills Bath, Edgar Buildings, 17 George St, Bath; www.savills.co.uk

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 81

PROPERTY NEWS Visual representation of how Newark Works might look on completion

Riverside development

NEW WORK FOR NEWARK

The site of one of Bath’s most famous industrial firms Stothert and Pitt, who were ‘the crane makers of the world’, is going to be transformed into a 40,000 sq ft creative campus.

Newark Works, on the Lower Bristol Road,

is being developed by TCN, who have signed a £7 million contract with BAM Construction.

The refurbishment of the historic buildings includes new roof structures, replacement windows, and full internal reconfiguration to create a workspace with ancillary retail and leisure facilities. The mix of units will contain around 40-50 small- and medium-size companies, along with meeting areas, break out facilities, and amenities to enable a collaborative and inspiring environment.

The 16-month build programme, which is part of Bath Quays South enterprise development, began late-August and it is scheduled to be finished in December 2021.

Richard Pearce, CEO of TCN, says, “Newark Works will once again be the entrepreneurial pride of Bath. We are delighted to have reached this point and welcome BAM on board to help us deliver our vision.”

For more: www.newarkworks.co.uk

Hotel for sale

CHECKING IN

The Grade II Lansdown Grove Hotel is to come onto the market with a guide price of £8 million. The grand Regency-style property has 61 rooms, which have recently benefitted from significant investment to upgrade its bedrooms and public areas. The 18th century property, for which Savills and Carter Jonas are joint agents, also comprises a large reception area, lounge bar, restaurant, and private lawned gardens. Plus there’s private parking for around 40 cars, which, in Bath, is probably worth the £8 million alone.

For more: www.carterjonas.co.uk/ www.savills.co.uk

ABOVE: Ariel view of the magnificent Lansdown Grove Hotel RIGHT: The 61-bedroom property is on the market for £8 million

82 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

The private lawned gardens

6 CLEVELAND WALK Explore a stylishly renovated Bathwick 1960s gem, with not just one, but several secret gardens

By John Mather 84 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

PROPERTY

W

hile Bathwick might be more known for its grand Georgian townhouses, this little gem is a baby in age by comparison, but is no less confident in stature. The front of 6 Cleveland Walk, an impressive flat front façade in honey stone, gives a hint at the solid, thoughtful and delightful layout that awaits inside.

This mid-century six-bed property has an open plan lightness of touch that allows daylight to flood in at every level, but with each living space benefitting from a smart arrangement that allows both flow, and also functionality.

The recent high standard renovation work means the level of luxe has been upped and is evident all through the house, including the Bulthaup B2 German fitted kitchen with a diamond white island, adjoining oak breakfast bar and fitted wall units. There’s also

integrated Gaggenau appliances including fridge, freezer, halogen hob, teppanyaki grill, steam oven, electric fan oven, warming drawer and Miele dishwasher.

Seamlessly positioned is the reception room with woodburner and glazed floor to ceiling doors that look out onto the landscaped garden, replete with mature trees and established shrubs.

Adjacent to these spaces and artfully divided by a partition wall is a decent-sized dining area. Finally, across the back of the house we come to the study, an ideal secluded home working space which can be accessed from the front courtyard.

Also on the ground floor is the guest bedroom, which is a comfortable double with en suite shower room that can also be accessed from the hallway via Jack & Jill doors. At the other end of the kitchen is the utilitarian end of the house with an ergonomically designed utility room/laundry with double Corian sinks, Humidistat fan to expel moist air for faster drying, a boot room, pantry and wet room. This end of the house can be accessed from outside to the front drive and also the rear garden.

Upstairs we find the master bedroom with views over the rear garden, floor to ceiling patio doors and a full length Juliet Balcony. This room has a discreet dressing area with built-in wardrobes and en suite bathroom and shower room. Bedroom two is at the other end of the house, and is a huge double with dressing room

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 85

PROPERTY

(with fitted wardrobes), and double aspect offering farreaching views over the gorgeous skyline to the west of Bath, and to the front and rear gardens.

Now outside and on to the delightful mature terraced garden with specimen trees, which begins with a level seating area and includes a pond with a fountain and waterfall. From here, meandering paths lead up through a variety of trees and shrubs to a stone-built pavilion at the top of the garden, which has water, electricity and a water heater, and could be used as gorgeous home office.

There are a variety of seating areas positioned around the garden including a secluded barbecue area with pergola behind the pavilion. There are various secreted areas for compost at the top of the garden with a shed hidden amongst the trees. Both inside and out, 6 Cleveland Place is scoring a 10 on every level.

86 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

HOUSE NUMBERS Stone pavilion 1

Guide price

Bedrooms 5

For more: Winkworth Bath, 13 Argyle St, Bathwick, Bath. tel: 01225 829000; www.winkworth.co.uk

Bathrooms

5

Reception rooms

3

ÂŁ2.25m

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Lansdown Crescent

NORMAL RULES DO NOT APPLY Increasing demand for prime Bath property continues across open and private markets, says Luke Brady, head of southern residential for SAVILLS 88 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

S

avills residential research team compared the number of £1m-plus house sales agreed subject to contract since the beginning of June with the same period last year. Findings show the number of sales to be +66 per cent higher, with volumes up +16 per cent in the first three quarters of the year.

Luke Brady, head of southern residential for Savills, describes how pace of change in the UK housing market has taken everyone by surprise over the past few months, suggesting normal rules simply don’t apply.

“The South West of England has seen the biggest surge in demand for £1m-plus homes, with sales rising 38 per cent from 1466 to 2022, and in Bath we have seen this demand drive momentum across both the open and private markets. We have also seen values of the UK’s prime houses top their pre-global financial crisis 2007 peak in the three months to the end of September, driven by record levels of demand from those reviewing their housing needs after the experience of lockdown.

“The market in Bath shows little sign of slowing down with equal activity across the town and country markets.

Property with good outside space continues to be soughtafter, especially on the fringes of the city where we have seen strong interest from buyers looking for good proximity to local amenities and a sense of community.”

Jack King, head of city sales for Savills Bath says, “We have also seen a continued appetite in the private sales market, with £24 million in sales for the first three quarters of the year, something that has long held relevance in Bath for the discretion it affords. We are also seeing an increase in property intended for the open market being sold ahead

ADVERTISING FEATURE

“A DESIRE FOR MORE SPACE IS NOW A MAJOR PRIORITY FOR BUYERS” of marketing. Our database of prospective buyers, which continues to grow alongside an increasing demand for lifestyle-driven locations, allows us to align prospective buyers needs with properties coming to the market ahead of them launching.”

Culturally diverse, Bath has a reputation as one of the UK’s most family-friendly cities set against a backdrop of elegant Georgian architecture and design. Equally well known for its exceptional standard of education, compact structure and excellent connectivity Bath is increasingly sought-after, with rising interest from buyers further afield.

“A desire for more space is now a major priority for buyers.

It has boosted the appeal of more rural and lifestyle locations, which given experience of the past decade continue to offer good value,” Luke continues. “This reassessment of need has also created demand for larger family homes, for which Bath is especially well known, particularly for those expecting to work from home for at least part of the week on an ongoing basis.

“The balance between office and home working has also broadened the search criteria for buyers, especially those considering a move out of the capital for which areas of the south west including Bath are now a more realistic option.

“Buyer determination to avoid compromise on lifestyle factors is a trend that looks set to continue and demand for homes with more inside and outside space shows no sign of slowing down in Bath and the surrounding area.” n

Top and above: Cleveland House

Savills Bath, Edgar House, 17 George Street, Bath, BA1 2EN 01225 474 500; www.savills.co.uk Source: Savills research using TwentyCi

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 89

VANITY PROJECTS Experts advise on how to avoid that sinking feeling by properly planning your bathroom

By John Mather

I

ncreased time spent in the home thanks to lockdown has triggered a spate of hasty house renovations – not least the bathroom. We realised this room offered more than just a place to wash, it was a place to destress and for many, to steal some valuable alone time.

But while we might be in a hurry to make our bathrooms beautiful, putting in a new bathroom isn’t cheap, and can be tricky to rectify if you get it wrong, so we ask five local experts to share their advice on how to avoid these 10 common, and costly, bathroom errors.

Design by Woolf Interior

BATHROOMS

1ODD LAYOUTS

Verity Woolf, head of residential and commercial interiors at Woolf Interior Architecture & Design, advises on the importance of this first step, “You need to think through your layout – try not to have the loo facing you as you go into the main entrance or doorway of the bathroom unless the loo is located in a cubicle setting. If your loo is being positioned in a corner of the bathroom, to enhance privacy, make sure you have adequate head height above the seat.”

Philippa May, Bath Life’s interiors columnist, agrees, “It’s important to map out exactly what you want in a scaled drawing and then map it with tape again if you can, in the actual room. Things might suddenly feel more crowded, or you’ll be filled with joy that you can actually fit in a wider than anticipated washstand.”

2USING UNSUITABLE MATERIALS

Natasha Townsend, design consultant of Hobson’s Choice, the luxury bath and kitchen designers, says, “It’s vital to avoid materials and finishes that might not be ‘bathroom friendly’, ie. water is able to penetrate the material over time and cause damage and discolouration. Research and select products that are made for bathrooms, easy to clean, protected from water-damage and capable of standing the test of time.”

However if you do have your heart set on wallpaper, there are ways it can be done, as Verity points out, “If a wallpaper is not manufactured specifically for a bathroom but you love it, then you can get a good decorator to apply a few coats of clear acrylic varnish over the installed wallpaper to boost its resistance to moisture and heat.”

3LEAVING OUT COUNTER SPACE above: Want wallper, then apply a few coats of clear acrylic varnish on top says Verity

of Woolf Interior; below: Nastaha of Hobson’s Choice stresses the importance of using the right materials

“You want the bathroom experience to be really easy, comfortable and ergonomic,” says Verity. “A golden rule in designing a bathroom is to ensure that you have planned for adequate storage space and surfaces on which to put products. Equally, designing in too much storage space can mean that you amass bathroom clutter.

“I am a huge fan of a double sink for a sharing couple and undermounted sinks do maximise the counter top, and also of wellpositioned niches or ledges in showers. They provide another form of worktop space and make for a much better showering experience.”

“A golden rule in designing a bathroom is to ensure that you have planned for adequate storage space” www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 91

BATHROOMS

4A RIGHT SHOWER

Natasha points out how often taps are in the wrong place: “Positioning mixer controls in a walk-in shower in a place that causes the user to get wet before the water has warmed is a common mistake.

Examine your reach, where is a comfortable ergonomic position for you to activate a shower without being under the flow of water.”

Controversially Philippa insists you don’t always need a shower screen, “Let’s face it, they’re a bugger to keep clean and streak free, especially with Bath’s very hard water. If you can, create a wetroom without one and use a tiled or Moroccan plastered wall instead – just make sure you fit your towel rail and sanitaryware far enough away so it doesn’t get wet, and make sure you design a tiled skirting for the room to prevent the walls from getting damaged.”

But before you ditch the bath, think carefully, advises Verity, “In a family home, we think it is best to keep a bath in the house, it is always handy to have one with young children, and many people still like a long relaxing soak.”

5INSTALLING INSUFFICIENT HEATING

“The heat generated by a towel radiator will be suppressed by the towels themselves, reducing the impact on the room,” Natasha points out. “Research ‘British Thermal Unit’ (BTU) and calculate the value you require for your bathroom. Select appropriate heating products that provide you with the right level of BTU output for your space.”

6NOT KNOWING YOUR WATER PRESSURE

“Understanding your water system will hugely affect which products you can use in your bathroom,” says Neil Curtis, senior designer at Ripples, the city-based bathroom specialists.

“Knowing what type of water pressure you have and how it’s supplied to the bathroom will allow you to maximise the choice of product you specify and help you to achieve maximum flow rates.”

top: Ripples’ Neil says make sure you know your water pressure

above: Hobson Choice’s Natasha reminds us not to overlook lighting left: Philippa suggests trying the wet room route

92 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

“Whether you’re there for the long game or renovating to sell, beware of fashions”

8FOLLOWING FASHION Design by Woolf Interiors

“Don’t be dictated to by trends,” warns Philippa. “Whether you’re there for the long game or renovating to sell, beware of fashions. We all scroll Pinterest and Instagram for the latest beautiful bathroom inspiration but be careful with what you choose. It’s expensive fitting out a bathroom and if you want to change the tiles later down the line, it’s going to be painful.”

Neil backs this up by suggesting tiles be chosen on their merit, and not what’s the latest trend. “A tile will look very different on its own, compared to how it looks when it’s in place in your bathroom. It’s vital that you think about the colour and size of your tiles, as well as where you want them placed, as these factors will have a huge impact on the overall design of the bathroom. If you’re using tiles on the walls and the floor, we often recommend choosing designs in similar colours as this will help create a seamless look and tricks the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it really is.”

9POOR LIGHTING

“Not considering lighting and the respective electrical circuits as a priority is a another common mistake,” says Natasha. “Particularly important if the bathroom only has a small window or if the lighting casts unwanted shadows/glare across mirrors. Review the space, where are dark areas? Are you installing illuminated mirrors that can provide additional illumination? Which lights do you wish to be on when you are getting ready and which provide a relaxing ambience, how will you distinguish between the two?”

10DOING IT YOURSELF

“Bathrooms are technical spaces requiring careful planning by knowledgeable designers who understand the details and can foresee challenges that may arise,” says Natasha. “Not talking to a professional first often means underestimating the amount of expertise, work and budget required to achieve an excellent and long lasting finish.” n

OUR BATHROOM PANELLISTS Neptune’s Lulu believes in enhancing white with paint and timber

7

ALWAYS WHITE?

“White can be an easy way to resolve a bathroom, particularly if you are on a tight budget and you want to maximize the feeling of light and space,” says Verity. “However, the execution needs to be sharp and all white can drain the room of personality, unless you put in some fun accessories. Don’t be afraid to include artwork in your bathroom where you can, provided it is not hung too close to the shower.”

Lulu Keyzar, the store manager of Neptune, the interiors and lifestyle brand, also believes in enhancing the white-not-quite look. “Incorporate paint and timber rather than starkly white tiles to evoke a richer, warmer and softer appearance. Bring in other pieces of furniture if you have room; a cosy armchair to sink into in your dressing gown, or simply a place to temporarily drape your clothes. This will introduce softness of fabric to your bathroom, although best to avoid velvet as it’ll mark easily.”

1. Lulu Keyzar; www.neptune.com 2. Natasha Townsend; www.hobsonschoice.uk.com 3. Neil Curtis; www.ripplesbathrooms.com 4. Philippa May; www.maydstudio.com 5. Verity Woolf; www.woolfinterior.com 1

2

4

3

5

www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 93

ADVERTISING FEATURE

FOR THE HOME Our local businesses are poised and ready to help with all your home needs for autumn

KUTCHENHAUS

Kutchenhaus have opened a brand new showroom in the heart of Bath bringing their beautifully designed and highly engineered German kitchens to the city. Owner Rob Cash and his experienced and talented team look after every customer through the journey from enquiry to completion, creating kitchens of the highest standard at affordable prices. 5 Saracen St, Bath BA1 5BR; Tel: 01225 634025; www.kutchenhaus.co.uk/showroom/bath

KELLY MARIE KITCHEN INTERIORS

CLAIR STRONG INTERIOR DESIGN

www.clairstrong.co.uk

Bath’s leading fireplace, wood burner, gas fire, chimney and flue specialist. From classic to contemporary, concept to completion, their team of experts can work with you to achieve your perfect interior. Brands include Chesney’s, Barbas Belfires, Hwam, Stuv and Jetmaster. Get in touch or visit the showroom. Mendip Fireplaces, Monkton Combe, Bath BA2 7HD. info@mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk, Tel: 01225 722706; www.mendipfireplacesbath.co.uk

BATH KITCHEN COMPANY

ETONS OF BATH

Working from her beautiful showroom and with over 15 years’ experience in the kitchen industry, Kelly Marie has built a strong reputation. She combines technical aspects of design with an intrinsic creativity, producing functional yet beautiful spaces. Her portfolio includes luxury German made kitchens and Italian painted shaker kitchens.

Full design and installation service. Tel: 01225 481881

Based in the heart of Bath and specialising in bespoke, handmade kitchens, Bath Kitchen Company become personally invested in every kitchen they design and build. It’s about attention to detail at every stage – creating a beautiful space that enhances the way you live. 7-9 North Parade Buildings, Bath BA1 1NS; Tel: 01225 312003

WESTSIDE DESIGN

CHEVERELL

www.westsidedesign.co.uk

www.cheverell.co.uk

www.kellymariekitchens.com

Westside Design is a family-run Bath based company offering a tailored design, manufacturing and installation service for all aspects of cabinet making and joinery. Specialising in contemporary bespoke kitchens and interiors.

Contact Michael on 01225 330843 or 07976 268458 or email info@westsidedesign.co.uk

MENDIP FIREPLACES

Clair Strong Interior Design is a small, creative company based in Bath, providing a wide range of services for both residential and commercial clients. Her portfolio of projects includes the design, project coordination and sourcing for some of Bath’s most beautiful residences, as well as sports clubs, offices and other commercial venues.

Contact Clair on 01225 426906 or 07855 79731

www.bathkitchencompany.co.uk

Cheverell is set in the heart of Wiltshire with a stunning showroom and workshop, offering a full bespoke design, manufacturing and installation service in kitchens, bedrooms, and interiors. Established in 1989 it has over 30 years of experience to guide you through the whole process. Cheverell, Waller Road, Hopton Park, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 2GH; Tel: 01380 722722;

Founded in 2006, Etons of Bath is the UK’s only specialist interior design practice focussed on refurbishing, renovating and reinvigorating Georgian and Regency homes and hotels. Their team of 12 interior designers, planners and project managers can help you design and deliver classically inspired interiors that add value, turn heads and improve the use of space.

Tel: 01225 639002; www.etonsofbath.com

BONITI

Boniti is based on the outskirts of Bath and offers a wide range of quality interior and exterior products: natural stone and timber flooring, Everhot range cookers, garden furniture and Kadai firebowls. As well as the vast selection of products on offer, a friendly and personal service is at the heart of all that they do.

Dunsdon Barn, West Littleton,Wiltshire SN14 8JA; Tel: 01225 892 200; www.boniti.com www.mediaclash.co.uk I BATH LIFE I 97

BATH LIVES

“All the hard-work that goes into the photographs stays unnoticed” Instagram was quite new back then. After a while, most of my audience understood what the role involved and they always felt inspired when I told them what I do – it is, ultimately, a dream job.

It is important to work with the brands that reflect your

brand identity and the interests of your audience too.

NATHAN ROLLINSON

Brand consultant, content creator and photographer Nathan talks about his Insta life and moving to Bath Originally from Cambridge and the Midlands, Nathan moved to London in 2008 and started snapping images of the hotels, restaurants and shops he was hanging out in, for his Instagram account. Soon his social media hobby was attracting a huge following, and as result, Nathan founded Rollinson London in 2015. As a brand consultant Nathan, who was born profoundly deaf, works with many international brands, helping promote them to his 80k followers.

I used to go to theatre school every Saturday until the age of 15 and soon after, I was selected

to become a TV presenter for the

98 I BATH LIFE I www.mediaclash.co.uk

Cartoon Network, and British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust (BSLBT) programmes.

The Queen inspired me during my first interaction with her at the Royal Enclosure ground at Royal Ascot.

My passion for travel and hotels has brought me to my

current work. There has always been something special about exploring places and visiting hotels. I am always eager to find out more about the history and the offerings of a place.

People used to be a little confused when I said I was a content creator. Partly

because doing brand reviews on

On Instagram I only show the beautiful parts. All the

hard-work that goes into the photographs stays unnoticed behind the scenes.

A hard part of this job is how competitive this industry can be as there are several other

content creators out there. Also, sometimes the client gives you a very tight schedule to create the work in few days, and this is stressful when you have to look for another photographer, find a location whilst considering the weather too – but most of the time, it all goes well.

I am never without my phone,

which is an iPhone X. On an average day I spend about 8-9 hours checking emails, social media platforms, editing, photographing, and texting.

I try and switch my phone off after 9.30pm to allow myself to retreat away from the technology and have me time. But honestly this is rare, and I do find it hard to switch off.

Lockdown affected my job massively as the content that

I offer is based on luxury in the

travel, hotel, food, fashion and beauty industry. Many of my audience had lost their interests and changed their priorities.

Also I decided to distance myself away from social media too as it wasn’t the right time to showcase such offerings but instead, I made the decision to support the communities in a different way.

Having been deaf from birth,

I do wonder if my observational skills compensate for my lack of hearing. I don’t tend to talk about my disability as I want to focus on showcasing the work and my ability.

I have adored Bath since I was 18 and first visited. I always vowed that I’d move here one day. The neo-classical Georgian buildings never cease to amaze me – I am a huge fan of the Georgian era. Also, my partner grew up near Bath, and it was a perfect opportunity for me to move during the lockdown period as I realised that I am ready to move on, and have a quieter, and more balanced life.

My future ambition is to set up my own hotel somewhere

in Somerset, and merge into interior design for private clients.

However things might change again, as life is full of surprises.

While it is nice to have an aim, it is equally wonderful to go with the flow and see what happens. n

For more: www.therollinsonlondon.com